
Glass_ ^ ^ V 

Book .\^4-4 - 



HISTORY 




OF 



NORTH CAROLINA, 



By JOHN IvAWSON, Qentleman. 



Being a Reprint of the Copy Nov/ in the North Carouna 

State Library, Raleigh, Presented by President 

James Madison, in the Year 1831. 



CHARLOTTE, N. C: 

Observer Printing House, 

1903. 



f":ic^n 



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V 



COMPILER'S PREFACE. 



What may truly be termed the first 
real history of North Carolina is that 
toy John Lawson, and it is in many re- 
spects the most interesting of them all. 
Lawson was a man of very marked 
ability. He was the surveyor general 
of the Lords Proprietors for their prov- 
ince of North Carolina. He must have 
ibeen accomplished in his profession 
and it is plain to see from the book he 
has left that he was also a botanist and 
naturalist of no mean order, even 
though he was at times led far astray 
by the stories the Indians told him. He 
was a very close observer of people, 
and in a small compass he has fixed 
for all time information not otherwise 
to be had regarding the aboriginal in- 
habitants of North Carolina. He signs 
himself John Lawson, Gentleman, from 
which it is probable that he was a scion 
of the ancient house of Lawson in 
Yorkshire, England, of which John is 
the favorite name. 

This history, which bears the date of 
1714, has a preface, a dedication and 
an introduction, the dedication being in 
all respects a model, a double tribute 
to this new land of Carolina and to the 
Lords Proprietors, its owners. Law- 
son, after securing the notes and other 
material for this history, appears to 
have begun its publication in parts in 
London as early as 1708 and some copies 
are dated 1710. The particular copy 
from which this reprint is now made 
was presented to the State of North 
Carolina in 1831 by President James 
Madison. 

A second edition of Lawson was print- 
ed in London in 1718 and differs in some 
respects from the one now reprinted. 
It is not 60 attractive, the map being 
Very small and poor. The title page 



says it was '^Printed for T. Warner 
at the Black Boy in Pater Noster Row, 
1718. Price bound 5 shillings." A re- 
print of Lawson was made in 1860 by 
Oliver H. Perry, State librarian, but is 
very unattractive in all respects. Even 
this reprint is rare and costly. Perry 
stated in 1860, in his preface, that there 
were only two copies of Lawson then 
in this State; one in the State Library, 
the other in the library of the State 
University. 

This history of Lawson bearing date 
1714 is divided into three distinct parts, 
the first being a journal of a thousand 
miles traveled among the Indians from 
South to North Carolina; the second a 
description of North Carolina; the 
third an account of the Indians of 
North Carolina. The description of 
North Carolina is sub-divided further 
into several parts, covering the plants 
and herbs, the present state of the 
colony, and its natural history. The 
large map which accompanies the book 
and which is now reproduced by pho- 
tography, is admirably engraved, but 
has many inaccuracies as to streams 
'and is very misty indeed about every- 
thing west of a line runnig north and 
south say through what is now Hills- 
boro, and it wofully fails to locate most 
of the Indian tribes to which such fre- 
quent reference is made and also fails 
to locate places repeatedly alluded to in 
the narrative. The seal of the Lords 
Proprietors is placed above the dedica- 
tion, since the map is, like the book, 
specially dedicated to them. 

Lawson left Charleston on the 28th of 
December, 1700, for his long and in 
those days, eventful and dangerous, 
journey through the Carolinas. Taking 
an Indian as guide, he went by boat along 



IV 



lawson's history 



the coast to Bull's Island, and thence to 
Raccoon Island and the mouth of the 
Santee river, and a considerable dis- 
tance up that stream. He found bitter 
weather from the start 'and he found an 
enormous flood in that river, which was 
36 feet above its usual level. He no- 
tices the French settlements, and un- 
like most Englishmen of his time sets a 
high estimate upon that nation both as 
explorers and colonizers. The first In- 
dian tribe he met was the Sewees, 
whom he refers to as "a small nation 
since the English seated their lands," 
this being a polite phrase for the oc- 
cupation of the New World. Lawson is 
frank in the extreme as regards the re- 
lations of the whites to the Indians. He 
chronicles the deadly work of the two 
great agents in Indian depopulation, to- 
wit, rum and smallpox, which were 
brought here by the whites. He tells, 
too, of the utter difference in human 
kindness between the whites and the 
aborigines. The latter never turned 
away a white man from their doors and 
always divided food with them. Black 
indeed does Lawson paint the character 
of the whites in this respect. In fact 
the Indian character stands out bright 
compared with that of the English and 
Spaniards, so far as human kindness Is 
concerned. It is no wonder, after read- 
ing Lawson's narrative of his journey 
and his account of the Indians that the 
latter had disappeared so fast. They 
had killed each other in war and by 
poison, in the use of which they were 
as subtle as the Italians of the fifteenth 
century. But deadlier still was the work 
of rum and smallpox, which in the 50 
years preceding 1700 had swept away, 
he declares, five-sixths of the Indians 
who were in reach of the English set- 
tlements of North Carolina. 

But to return to Lawson and his 
journey. Leaving the Santee river he 
set out for the Congaree country, the 
latter river flowing from the eastward 



and joining with the Wateree, forming 
the Santee. A town in Richland coun- 
ty. South Carolina, near the junction of 
the Congaree and Santee, is perhaps 
the site of the capital of the Congaree 
Indians. This part of Lawson's journey 
was nearly due northwest. His next 
objective point was the Wateree tribe 
of Indians. A village of that name is 
in Santee county and evidently the 
Waterees and Congarees were close 
neighbors. He traveled about three 
days, his usual day's journey being 
about 25 miles, and reached the Wa- 
teree Chickanee Indians. This march 
took him northward, for he crossed the 
•Wateree river immediately before 
reaching the nation of that name. In 
one day's journey from the Waterees he 
reached the Waxhaw Indians, these no 
doubt living in what is now the lower 
part of Lancaster county, and perhaps 
part of Union. After a day's journey 
directed towards Sapona, northeast, he 
crossed several brooklets and one small 
river, perhaps the headwaters of 
Lynch's river, and then he was among 
the Esaw Indians. From these he went 
to the Kadapaus. He says he found 
one point at which a savannah or open 
level of ground was bordered on one 
side by ridges of mountains, this show- 
ing that he was quite far up the State. 
He speaks of numerous panthers, 
"tygers" and wolves, and in fact tells 
of the shooting of a "tyger." surely a 
mythical beast, only inferior in fear- 
fulness to the one which he says the 
Indians told him of further up the 
country, a frightful monster before 
which everything gave way and yet 
which no one seems ever to have seen. 
He found wild turkeys in gangs of sev- 
eral hundred and he also found the 
buffalo, having seen the latter killed as 
far eastward as the Haw river. 

Lawson's account of the Indian towns 
along a part of his route is all too 
meagre. He says that each of these 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



towns had its theatre or state house all 
along the road from the Wisack In- 
dians to Sapona, a distance of 170 miles. 
In the first sketch of the settlement of 
North Carolina ever illustrated, that by 
De Bry, printed in Germany in 1590 and 
based upon the drawings and descrip- 
tion of the settlement of Roanoke Isl- 
and by Governor John White, there are 
admirable pictures of these Indian 
towns, with palisades protecting the 
huts, and with a larger building in the 
centre, evidently the theatre or state 
house, and these engravings and the 
others of the Indians which De Bry 
made fill in admirably what Lawson 
has omitted, since the latter appears to 
have been no artist. 

Lawson made a great semi-circle in 
this journey of a thousand miles. He 
said he intended to see North Carolina 
and he probably went as far to the 
westward as any man had gone up to 
that time. It was on his journey 
through the Kadapau Indian country 
that he met some Indians whom he 
terms the Jennitos or Sinnagers. He 
meant the Senecas, who came from 
New York and thereabouts and who 
were one of the "Five Nations." These 
Senecas, he says, ravaged the country 
for several thousand miles and were 
ithe most feared of all the Red Men. It 
is a matter of hstory that the Tusca- 
roras, who were the most powerful 
tribe in North Carolina, as Lawson 
states, after their great defeat by the 
colonists left North Carolina by per- 
mission and went to New York, where 
they joined the "Five Nations," mak- 
ing the latter the "Six Nations." Law- 
son says he found the Sapona Indians 
as far to the southward as the Kada- 
paus. His map does not locate Sapona 
town, but he merely states that it was 
on the Sapona river, one side of which 
was hemmed in by what he termi 
"mountainy ground." Sapona river was 
doubtless the Pee Dee, a few miles be- 



low the place where the Yadkin loses 
its name and water into the Pee Dee. 
Lawson speaks at this point of his 
journey of frequently passing smaU 
creeks. Lancaster and Chesterfield 
counties, in South Carolina, are a net- 
work of such little streams, the heal 
v/aters of Lynch's river and branches 
of the Pee Dee. He says the Sapona 
river was a branch of the Cape Fear. 
It was easy to make th^s mistake, be- 
cause for a few miles the course of the 
river was a little north of due east. 

And here in his narrative of his 
journey it was given Lawson to fore- 
tell precisely his own horrible mode of 
death, as it has been given to no otner 
writer. The Saponas had captured as 
prisoners some Senecas, and planned to 
torture them by sticking their bodies 
thickly with lightwood splinters, 
which were to be lighted like so many 
candles, the tortured persons "dancing 
around a great fire until their strength 
failed and disabled them from making 
any further pastime for their captors." 
It was thus the Indians tortured poor 
Lawson himself, not many years later 
after they had captured him and De- 
Graffenreid, near Newbern. Lawson 
speaks of the Toteros as a neighboring 
nation to the Saponas, yet having their 
home in what he calls the "Westward 
Mountains." It was on January 31st, 
45 day« after he had left Charleston, 
that he reached the Saponas, and this 
shews what a wide sweep his jourriey 
took. He left Sapona-town after a 
brief stay and traveled about eight 
miles, when he came to Rocky river. 
This seems to be the stream which sep- 
arates Stanly and Anson counties, 
which is to-day known by that name 
on account, as Lawson savs, of its 
rocky bed, and any one who has seen 
this stream will say it is well named. 
Going northward he crossed the Heigh- 
waree, evidently the Uwharrie. which 
fiows across the northwestern corner of 



VI 



lawson's history 



Montgomery county, and which emp- 
ties into the Yadkin river. He went a, 
little to the northwest, to the town of 
the Keyauwees, which tribe afterwards 
was merged into the Saponas. A small 
town in the southern portion of David- 
son county is now known as Sapona, 
and perhaps may have been the original 
Keyauwees-town. The distance would 
make about a day's journey from the 
Uwharrie river, this being the time in 
which Lawson made it. He says they 
found plenty of chestnuts there and 
this shows that they were far west. He 
also speaks of their seeing no more pine 
trees. 

It was at the Keyauwees town that 
he saw the princess of that tribe, the 
King's only daughter, whom he terms 
"the beautifullest Indian I ever saw. ' 
Observant Lawson never failed to see 
the women and to note their physical 
and other good qualities. Like the 
other Englishmen of the time he had 
an eye for those comforts which delight 
the appetite and much of his story is 
about the food. He does not name the 
person who left Charleston with him, 
but says that on departing from the 
Keyauwee country he and "one more" 
took their leave of most of the com- 
pany, "resolving, with God's leave, to 
see North Carolina." His next objec- 
tive point was what he calls the 
Achonechey town. This was no doubt 
the chief t«wn of the Occoneechee In- 
dians, and must have been not very far 
from Hillsboro. He says that on his 
way there he crossed the northwest 
branch of the Cape Fear river. His 
course was now changed, more towards 
the east. In the outset he said he pro- 
posed to see North Carolina, and his 
route shows that he went much out of 
his way to do this. He refers to pass- 
ing several small rivers, doubtless, as 
he says, the head-waters of the Cape 
Fear. From the Keyauwee's town they 
traveled about 130 miles, when they 



crossed what he terms the "famous 
Hau, or as some say the Reatkin" 
(meaning the Yadkin, which he con- 
fused with the Haw). As the Indians 
wandered about like cattle, in search of 
food, it is very probable that they gave 
the same, or similar, names to different 
streams, to-wit, Reatkin-Yadkin. Col. 
Byrd, of Virginia, calls the latter 
stream the "Yapatto Yadkin." Lawson 
continued eastward about 20 miles fur- 
ther, when he reached Achonechey 
(Occoneechee.) He speaks of the ex- 
traordinary rich land between the Haw 
river and the Occoneechee town, saying 
that he had never seen 20 miles of such 
fertile country altogether. He declares 
that the savages still possessed what he 
terms the "Flower of Carolina, the 
English enjoying only the fag-end of 
that fine country." He_evidently did 
not think so much of the coast region, 
which was then alone occupied by the 
whites. It was at the Occoneechee 
town that he met with that cleverest 
of Indians, "Enoe Will," whose name or 
a part of it at least has come down to 
us in the Eno river, which winds by the 
quaint old town of Hillsboro. Enoe 
Will occupied the triple relation to 
Lawson of landlord, friend ana guide, 
and they set out for Adshusheer, a 
place which is not located in his map 
but to which he frequently refers and 
which must have been an important 
Indian town. They made their jouney, 
"striking more to the eastward," show- 
ing that this had not been their course 
at an earlier date. Adshusheer must 
have been eastward of Occoneechee, 
though Lawson is again wrong about 
his streams, for though he says he 
was now crossing streams emptying 
into the Cape Fear river, he was really 
among those emptying into the Neuse. 
He went 40 miles further, to reach a 
nation called the "Lower Quarter, ' 
where he met, strange to say, one-eyed 
Indians in great numbers. He says he 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



Vll 



was stopped by a freshet in the Enoe 
river, which he was told ran into a 
place called "Enoe Bay" in the terri- 
tory of the Coree Indians, whose coun- 
try seems to have been near what its 
now Craven county. Lawson evidently 
got the Enoe and the Neuse rivers mix- 
ed the Enoe being but a small stream, 
and it must have been the Neuse itself 
which was at flood, for he says it was 
nearly as large as the Reatkin." He 
stopped at what he terms the "Falls of 
Neuse Creek," the Indian name for 
those falls being "Wee-quo-Whom." 
This must be the place some 16 miles 
north of Raleigh now known as the 
"Falls of Neuse." There is no Neuse 
creek, but only the river of that name. 
By this time two other Englishmen, 
eastward-bound to the English settle- 
ments, had joined Lawson's party, 
bringing it up to four whites, and on 
the banks of the Neuse they found Tus- 
carora Indians on their way to trade 
with the Schoccores and Achonechy In- 
dians, whom Lawson termed "West- 
ward Indians," no doubt to distinguish 
them from those who lived nearer the 
coast. The Indians had temporary 
hunting camps, which they called 
"hunting quarters," in one of which 
Lawson found 500 of them, these all be- 
ing, he says, Tuscaroras. He says the 
latter were by far the most numerous 
tribe in North Carolina and also the 
most bloodthirsty and cruel. These 
Tuscaroras appear to have had quite 
a genius for trade and they traveled 
far to peddle their wares among other 
tribes of Indians. The Tuscarora lan- 
guage was in fact a sort of current 
language among all the North Caro- 
lina Indians of which Lawson had 



knowledge. The Tuscaroras, in spite of 
their exceedingly bad reputation, seem 
to have been friendly to Lawson on 
this journey at least. 

The remaining part of this long wan- 
dering of a thousand miles was through 
the swambps and Lawson says he 
crossed what is now known as the Tar 
river and also the Chattookau, which 
he terms the northwest branch of the 
Neuse, and passed through a country 
very thick with Indian towns and plan- 
tations, here again finding the long, 
ragged moss (tillandsia) hanging from 
the trees, which he had not seen since 
he left lower South Carolina. He then 
came upon the banks of Pampticough, 
by which he means Pamlico, within 20 
miles of the English plantations, and so 
by water and on foot, on the 23rd of 
February, 1701. he reached his destina- 
tion, the home of "Mr. Richard Sm'th, 
of Pamticough river, in North Caro- 
lina." 

The credulity of Lawson, practical 
man as he was, must have been sorely 
tasked by what he saw and what he 
heard. It was in very truth a strange 
world he was in. The Indian wizards 
were in his eyes marvelous, particular- 
ly the one who, after performing some 
preliminary arts on the banks of a 
stream of much width, "fleed across," 
without touching the water; literally 
flew. 

Lawson's natural history is some- 
times at fault and his most amusing 
mistake, perhaps, is in ranking the 
"tortois" among the "insects, because 
they lay eggs and I did not know well 
where to put them." 

FRED A. OLDS. 



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containhntg the 

Exatl Defcripmnmid Natural Hi/Ioty 

O F T H A T 

te0:-ll ; N: . T • R Y: 

Together with the Frefent State thereof. 




J O U R N A L 

Of a Thoufand Miles, Travel'd thro' ieveral 

Nations of INDIANS. 

(^kiag a particular Account of their Guftoms, 

Manners, <s'c. 



kJOHA^ L JJ'V so Ny Gent. Surveyor-General 
"^^^ of ,N R T H-C J R IJ N J. \ 



L O N no N: ■■ ■'[ 

Prmtedfor W.TayUr ^t the Ship, and J. Baker at t]\e 3hck- 
- Boy, m Patcr'Noficr-jKoWf 17 14., 







FAC SIMILrE OF ORIGINAL TITLE PAGE. 



PREFACE. 



'Tis a great misfortune that most of 
our travellers who go to this vast con- 
tinent in America, are persons of the 
meaner sort, and generally of a very 
slender education; who being hired by 
the Merchants to trade among the In- 
dions, in which voyages they often 
spend several years, are yet at their 
return, incapable of giving any reason- 
able account of what they met withal 
in those remote parts; tho' the Coun- 
try abounds with Curiosities worthy of 
a nice Observation. In this point, I 
think, the French outstrip us. 

First, By their Numerous Clergy, 
their Missionaries being obedient to 
their Superiiors in the highest degree, 
and thiat Obedience being one great ar- 
ticle of their Vow, and strictly observed 
amongst all their 'order. 

Secondly, They always send abroad 
some of their Gentlemen in Company 
with the Missiionaries, who, upon their 
arrival, are ordered out into the wilder- 
ness, to miake discloveries, and to ac- 
quaint themselves with the savages of 
America; and are obliged to keep a 
strict Journal of 'all the passages they 
meet withal in order to present the 
same, not only to their glovernoirs and 
fathers, but likewise to their friends 
and relations in France; which is in- 
dustriously spread about that Kingdom, 
to their advantage. For their Monarch 
bein?' a very goiod judge of Men's Des- 
erts, does not often let m)oney or in- 
terest make men of Parts give Place to 
others of less Worth. This breeds an 
Honorable Emulation ajmongst them, to 
outdio one another, even in Fatigues, 
and Dangers; whereby they gain a 
giood Correspondence with the Indians, 



and acquaint themselves with their 
Speech and Custccns; and so make oon- 
sidera'ble Discoveries in a short time. 
Witness, their Journals from Canada, 
to the Mississippi, and its several 
Branches, where they have effected 
great matters, in a few years. 

Having spenv :raost of my Time, dur- 
ing my Eight Tears Abode in Carolina, 
in travelling! I not only surveyed the 
Sea-coast and thiose parts which are 
already inhabited by the Christians; 
but likewise view'd a spatious Tract of 
Land, lying betwixt the Inhabitants 
and the Ledges of the Mountains, from 
whence our noblest rivers have their 
Rise, running towards the Ocean, where 
they water as pleasant a Country as 
any in Europe; the Discovery of which, 
being never yet made Publick, I have In 
the FWlowing Sheets given you a faith- 
ful Account thereof, wherein I have 
laid down everything with Impartiality, 
and Truth, which is indeed, the Duty of 
every Author (and preferable to a 
Smooth Stile, aceolmpany'd with Falsi- 
ties and Hyperboles. 

Great Part of this pleasant and 
heaJthful country is inhabited by none 
but Savages, who covet a Christian 
Neigh'borhlood, flor the Advantage of 
Trade, and Enjoy all the Comforts of 
Life, free from Care and Want. 

But not to Amuse my Readers any 
longer w^th the Encomium of Carolina, 
I refer 'em to my Journal, and other 
more particular DescriDtibn of that 
Country and its Inhabitants, which 
they vill find after the ITatural History 
thereof, in which I have been very ex- 
act, and for Method's sake rang'd each 
Species under its distinct ami proper 
head. 



Xll 



lawson's history 



To His Excellency 
WILLIAM LORD CRAVEN, Pala- 
tine; 
THE MOST NOBLE, HENRY DUKE 

of Beaufort; 
THE RIGHT HONble MAURICE 

ASHLEY, ESQ: 
SIR JOHN COLLETON, BARO- 
NET, 
JOHN DANSON, ESQ; 

and the rest of the True and Ab- 
solute 
LORDS PROPRIETORS 

of the 
PROVINCE OF CAROLINA in 

AMERICA. 
MY LORDS, As Debts of Gratitude 
ought Most punctually tlo be paid, so 
where the Debtor is uncapable of Pay- 
ment, Acknowledgments ought, a,t 
least, to be made. I cannot, in the least, 
pretend Ho .retaliate Your Lordship's 
Favours to me, but must further in- 
trude on that Goodness of which I have 
a'lready had so good Experience, by 
Laying these Sheets at Your Lordship's 
Ftet, where they beg Protection, as 
baving nothing to recomtoend them, 
but Tlruth; a Gift which every Auth^or 
may be Master of, if he will be. 

I here present yiour Lordships with 
a Description of your own Country, 



for the most part, in her Natural 
Dress, and therefore less vitiated with 
Fraud and Luxury. A Country, whose 
Inhabitants may enjoy a Life of the 
Greatest Ease, and Satisfactiion, and 
pass away their Hours in solid Con- 
tentment. 

Those Charms of Liberty and Right, 
the Darlings of an English Nature, 
which your Lordships Grant and Main- 
tain, make you appear Noble Patrons 
in the Eyes of alU Men, and We a 
Happy People in a Foreiign Country; 
which niothing less than Ingratitude 
and Baseness can make us idisiown. 

As Heaven has been Liberal in its 
Gifts, so are Yo-ir Lordships favour- 
able Promoters of whatever may 
make xis an easy people; which I 
hope Your Lordships will continue to 
us and our Posterity, and that we and 
they miay always ackntowledge such 
favtours. by banishing from among us 
every Principal which renders Men 
factious and unjust, which is the 
Hearty Prayer of, 
lly Lords, 
Your Lordships Most obliged, 
miost humble, 
and most devoted servant, 

JOHN LAWSON. 



INTRODUCTION. 



In the Tear of 1700, when People 
flocked from all Parts of the Christian 
World, to see the Solemnity of the 
Grand Jubilee at Rome, my attention, 
at that Time, being- to Travel, I acci- 
dentally met with a Gentleman, who 
had been abroad, and was very well 
acquainted with the Ways of Living in 
Both Indies; of whom having made en- 
quiry concerning Them, he assur'd me 
that Carolina was the best country I 
could go to; and that there then lay 
a Ship in the Thames in which I 
might have my Passage. I laid 
hold on this Opportunity, and was not 
long on Board, before we fell down the 
River, and sail'd to Cowes; where, hav- 
ing taken in some passengers we pro- 
ceeded on our Voyage, till we sprung 
a-leak and were forc'd into the IsLands 
of Scillv. Here we spent about 10 days 
in refitting; in which time we had a 
good deal of Diversion in Pishing and 
Shooting on those Rocky islands. The 
inhabitants were very Courteous land 
civil, especially the Governor, to whose 
good Company and Favour we were 
very much obliged. Tbere is a Town on 
one of these Islands, where is good En- 
tertainment for those who happen to 
come in, though the Dand is but mean, 
and Flesh-meat not plenty. They have 
good store of Rabbits, Quails and Pish; 
and you see at the poor Peoples Doors 
great Heaps of Perriwinkle-shells; 
those Fish being a great Part of their 
Food. On the first day of May, having 
a fair Wind at East, we put to sea, and 
were on the Ocean (without speaking to 
any vessel except a Ketch bound from 
New England to Barbadoes, laden with 
Horses, Fish and Provisions) 'till the 
latter end of July, when the Winds 
hung so much Sou'therly, that we could 



not get to our Port, but put into 
Sandy-hookbay, and went up to New 
York after a pinching voyage, Caus'd 
by our long Passiage. We found at tha 
Watering-Place, a French Man of War. 
who had on Board 'Men and Necessaries 
to make a Colony, and wias intended 
for the Messessipni River, there to set- 
tle. The Oountrv of New York is very 
Pleasant in Summer, but in the Winter 
very cold, as all the Northern Planta- 
tions are. Their chief commodities are 
Provisions, Bread, Beer, Lumber and 
Fish in abundance; all which are very 
good, and some Skinis and Furs are 
henlce exported. The City Is govern'd 
by a Mayor, (as in England) is seated 
on an island, and lies very convenient 
for Tnade and Defence, having a reg- 
ular Fort and well mounted with guns. 
The Buildings are genera i'- of a small- 
er sort of Flemish Brick, and of the 
Dutch fashion (except some few 
Houses;) they are all very firm and 
good work, and conveniently placed, oa 
is likewise the town, which gives a 
very pleasant prospect of the neigh:- 
boring Islands and Rivers. A good part 
of the Inhabitants are Dutch, in whose 
hands this Colonv once wias. After a 
Fort-night's stay here, we pu;t out from 
Sandyhook, and in 14 days after, ar- 
rived at Charlestown, the Metropolis of 
South Carolina, which is situate in 32, 
45 North Latitude and admits of Large 
Ships to come over their Bar up to the 
Town, where is a very commodious 
Harbour, about 5 miles Distant from 
the Inlet, and stands on a point very 
convenient for trade, being Seated be- 
tween- two pleasant and navigable Riv- 
ers. The Town has very regular and 
fair streets, in which are good build- 
ings of Brick and Wood, and since my 



XIV 



lawson's history 



coming thence has had great additions 
of beautiful, Liarge Brick Budldings, be- 
sides a Strong Fort, and regular For- 
ttificati'ons made to defend the town. 
The inhabitants by their Wise Man- 
agement and Industry, have much im- 
proved the Countrv, which is in aa 
thriving Circumstances .at this Time, 
as any other Colon'y on the Continenit 
of English America, and is of more ad- 
vantage to the Crown of Great Britain, 
than anv other of the more Northerly 
Pl'antations, (Virginia and Maryland 
excepted.) This Colony was at first 
planted by a genteel Sort of People, 
that were well acquainted with Trade, 
and had either Money or Pants to make 
good Use of the advantages that of- 
fer'd, as most of them have done, by 
raisiing themselves to great Estates 
and Posts of Honor, in this thriving 
settlement. Since the first Planters, 
abundance of French and others have 
gone over, and raised themselves to 
considerable Fortunes. They are very 
Neat in Packing and Shipping of their 
Commodities; which method has got 
them so great a character Abroad, that 
they generally oome to a good Market 
with their Commodities; when often 
times the Products of other Plantations, 
are forced to be sold at Lower Prizes. 
They have a considerable Trade both 
to Europe, and the West Indies, where^ 
by they became rich, and are Supply'd 
Tvith all things necessiary for Trade, 
and Genteel Living, which several 
other Places fall short of. Their co- 
habiting in a Town has drawn to them 
ingenious People of rruost Sciences, 
whereby they have Tutors amongst 
them that educate their Youth a-la- 
mode. 

Their Roads, with great Industry, 
are made very Good and Pleasant. 
Near the Town is built a fair Parson- 
agehouse, with necessary offices, and 
the Minister has a very considerable 
allowance from his Parish. There Is 



likewise a French Church in Town, of 
the Reform'd Religion, and sevenal 
Meeting Houses for dissenting Oongre- 
gations, who all emjov at this day an 
entire liberty of their Worship; the 
Constitution of This Government, al- 
lowing all Parties of well meaning 
Christians tlo enjoy a free Toleration 
and possess the same Priviledges, so 
long as they appear to behave them- 
selves peaceably and well. It being the 
Lord's Proprietors Intent, that the in- 
habitants of Carolina should be as free 
from Oppression as any in the Uni- 
verse; which doubtless they will, if 
their own differences amiongst them- 
selves do not occasion the contrary. 

They have a well-dlsciplin'd Militia; 
their Horse are most Gentlemen, and 
well mounted, and the best in America, 
and may equalize any In other parts; 
their Officers, both Infantry and Clav- 
alry, generally appear in scarlet mount- 
ings, and as rich as in most Regiments 
belonging to the Grown, which shews 
the Richness and Grandeur of this Col- 
ony. They are a Fronteer, and prove 
such troublesome neighbors to the 
Spaniards, that they have ojice laid 
their town of St. Augustine in Ashes, 
and drove away their cattle; besides 
many Encounters and Ensragements, in 
which (they have defeated them, too 
tedious to relate here. Wh^all the French 
got by their Attempt against South 
Carolina, will hardly ever be ranked 
■amongst their Victories; their Admiral 
Monville being glad to leave the Enter- 
prize, and run awiay after he had suf- 
fered all the Loss and disgrace he was 
capable of receiving. They are Absolute 
Masters over the Indians, and carry so 
strict a hand over such as are within 
the Circle of their Trade, that none does 
the least Injury to any of the English, 
but he Is soon sent for and ' Dunished 
with Death or Otherwise, according to 
the nature of the fault. They have an 
entire friendship with the neighboring 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



XV 



Indians of several Nations, which are 
a very warlike People, ever Faithful to 
the English, and have proved them- 
selves Brave and True om all Occasions ; 
and are a great Help and Strength to 
this Colony. The Chief of the savage 
Nations have heretofore groaned under 
the Spanish Yoke, and having expe- 
rienced their Cruelty, are become such 
mortal Enemies to that People, that 
they never give a Spaniard quarter; 
but generally, when they take any 
Prisoners (if the English be not near 
to prevent it) sculp them, that is to 
take their hair and Skin of their heads, 
wLich they often flea away, whilst the 
Wretch Is alive. Notwithsitanding the 
English have used all their Endeavors, 
yet they could never bring them to 
leave this Biarbaritv to the Spaniards'; 
who, as they allege, used to^ murder 
them, and their relationB, and make 
slaves of them to build their Forts and 
Towns. 

This place Is m,ore plentiful in Money, 
than Most, or Indeed any of the Planta- 
tions on the Continent; besides they 
build a considerable number of Vessels 
of Cedar, and other Wood, with which 
they trade to Cuirassau and the West 
Indies; from one they bring money and 
from the other the Produce of their 
Islands, which yields a necessary Sup- 
ply of both to the Colony. Their Stocks 
of Cattle are incredible, being from one 
to two thousand head in one man's Pos- 
session; these feed in the Savannas, 
and Other Grounds, and need no fodder 
in the winter. Their 'Mutton and Veal is 
good, and their Pork is not inferior to 
any in America. As for Pitch and Tar, 
none of the Plantations are comparable 
for affording the vast quantities of 
Naval Stores, as this Place does. There 
have been heretofore Some Discoveries 
of Rich Mines in the Mountanous Parts 
of this Country; but being remote from 



the present settlement, and the inhabit- 
ants not well versed in ordering miner- 
als, they have been laid aside until a 
more fit opportunity happens. There 
are several noble Rivers and Rich 
Tracts of Land in their Lordships Do- 
minions, lying to the Southward, which 
are yet uninhabited, besides Port 
Royal, a rare Harbour and Inlet, hav- 
ing many inhabitants thereon; which 
their Lordships have noiw made a port 
for Trade. This will be a most advan- 
tageous settlement, lying so commbd- 
iously for Ships Coming from the 
Gulph, and the Richness of the Land, 
which is reported to be there. These 
more Southerly Parts will afford Or- 
anges, Limons, Limes, and many other 
Fruits, which the Northerly Plantations 
yield not. 

The Merchants of Carolina, are Fair, 
Frank Traders. The Gemtlemen seated 
in the country are very courteous, live 
very nobly in their Houses, and give 
very Genteel entertainments to all 
strangers and others that come to visit 
them. And since the Produce of S'outh 
and North Carolina Is the same, unless 
Silk, which this place produces great 
quantities of and very good. North 
Carolina having never made any Tryal 
thereof as yet, therefore I shall refer 
the Natural Produce of this Counltry, 
to that part which treats of North Car- 
olina, whose productions are much the 
same. The Christian Inhabitants of 
both Colonies pretty equal, but the 
Slaves of South Carolina are far more 
in number than those in the North. I 
shall now proceed to relate my journey 
thro' the country, from this Settlement 
to the other, and then treat of the Nat- 
ural History of Carolina, with other re- 
markable Circumstances which I have 
met with, during mv eight Years Abode 
in that Country. 



LAWSON'S 
History of North Carolina, 



CHAPTER I. 



On DecemJDer 28th. 1700, I be^an my 
voyage for (North Carolina) from 
Charles Town, being six Englishmen In 
company, with three Indian men and 
one woman, wife to our Indian Guide, 
having five miles from the Town to the 
Breach we went down In a large Canoe, 
that we had provided for our voyage 
thither, having the Tide of Ebb along 
with us; which was so far spent by 
that time we got down that we had not 
water enough for our Craft to go over, 
although we drew but two foot, or 
thereabouts. This bireach is a passage 
to a Marsh Lying to the Northward of 
Sullivan's Island, the Pilots having a 
lookout thereon, lying very comimodi- 
ous for Mariners (on that coast) making 
a go'od Land-Mark, in so level a 
country, this Bar being difficult to hit, 
where an observation hath been want- 
ing for a dav or two; Northeast winds 
bringing Great Fogs, Mists and Rains; 
which towards the cool months, Octo- 
ber, November, and until the latter end 
of March, often appear in these Parts. 
There are three pilots to attend, and 
conduct shins over the Bar. The Har- 
bour where the vessels generally ride, 
is against the Town, on Cooper's River, 
lying within a point which parts that 



and Ashley River, they being Land- 
Lock'd almost on all sides. 

At 4 in the afternoon (at half flood) 
we pass'd with our canoe over the 
Breach, leaving Sullivan's Island on 
our Star board. The first Place we de- 
signed for, was Santee River, on which 
there is a colony of French Protestants, 
allow'd and encourag'd by the Lords 
Proprietors. At night we got to Bell's- 
Island, a poor spot on land, being aiboul 
ten miles round, where lived (at that 
time) a Bermudian, being employ'd 
here with a Bov. to look after a stock 
of cattle and Hogs, by the owner of 
this Island. One side of the roof of his 
house was thatched with Palmeto- 
Leaves, the other open to the heavens, 
thousands of musketoes and other 
troublesome insects, tormenting both 
Man and Beast inhabiting the island. 
The Palmeto trees, whose leaves grow- 
ing onlv on top of the trees in the 
Shape of a Fan. and in a cluster, like 
a cabbage; this tree in Carolina, when 
at its utmost growth, is about 40 or 50 
foot in height, and two foot through. 
It's worth mentioning, that the growth 
of the Tree is not perceivable in the 
Age of any Man, the experiment havinr 
been often tried in Bermudas, and else- 



IvAwson's history 



where, which shows the slow growth 
of this veg-itable, the wood of it being 
porous and stringy, like stome Canes; 
the leaves thereof the Bermudians make 
womens hats, bokeets, baskets, and 
pretty dressing-boxes, a great deal be- 
ing transported to Pensilvania, and 
other Northern Partst of America 
(where they do not grow) for the same 
manufacture. The people of Carolina 
make of the fans of this tree, brooms 
very serviceable to sweep their houses 
withal. 

We took up our lodging this Night 
with the Bermudian; our entertainment 
was very indifferent; there being no 
fresh Water to be had on the Island. 

The next Morning we set. awav thro' 
the Marshes; about noon we reached 
another island called Dix's Land, much 
like to the former, tho' larger; there 
lived an honest Soot who gave us the 
best protection his Dwelling afffforded, 
being well Provided of Oat-Meal, and 
Several dther effects he had found on 
that coast; which goods belonged to 
that unfortunate vessel, the Rising Sun, 
a Scotch Man-of-War, lately arrived 
from the litmus of Darien and cast 
away near the Bar of Ashley River, the 
September before, Capt. Gibson, of 
Glasco, then commanding her, who with 
above an hundred men then on Board 
her, were evevv Soul drown'd in that 
terrible Gust which then happen'd; 
most of the corps being taken up, were 
carefully interr'd by Mr. Graham, their 
Lieutenant, who happily was on shore 
during the tempest. 

After Dinner we left our Scotch 
Landlord, and went that Night to the 
Noi^th East Point of the Island, It be- 
ing dark ere we got there, our Canoe 
Strujck on a Sandbar neai' the Break- 
ers, and were in Great Danger of our 
Lives; But (by God's Blessing) we got 
off safe to the Shore, where we lay all 
iiight. 

In the iMorning we set forward on our 



inltended Voyage. About two a Clock 
we got to Bulls Island, which is about 
Thirty Miles long, and hath a great 
Number of both Cattel and Hogs uT>on 
it; the Cattel being very Wild, and the 
Hogs very Lean. These two last Islands 
belong to one Colonel Cary, an Inhab- 
itant of South Carolina. Although it 
were Winter, yet we found such 
Swarms of Musketoes, and other 
troublesome Insects, that we got but 
little Rest that night. 

The next Day we intended for a small 
Island on the other Side of Sewee-Bay, 
which joining to these Islands, Ship- 
ping might come to victual or careen; 
bu't there being such a burden of those 
Flies, that few or none cares to settle 
there; so the Stock thereon are r\in 
Wild. We were gotten about half way 
to Racoon Island, when there sprung 
up a tart Gale at N. W. which puts us 
in some danger of being cast away, the 
bay being rough, and there running 
great Seas between the two Islands, 
which are better than four Leagues 
asunder; a strong Current of Tide set- 
ting in and out. which made us turn 
tail to it, and got our Canoe right be- 
fore the Wind, and came Safe into a 
Creek that is joining to the North End 
of Bulls Island. We sent our Indians to 
hunt, who brought us two Deers. which 
were verv poor, and their Maws full of 
large Grubs. 

On the morrow we went and visited 
the Easternmost Side of this Island, it 
joining to the Ocean, and having very 
fair and Sandy Beaches, pav'd with in- 
numerable sorts of curious pretty 
Shells, and very pleasant to the Eve. 
Amongst the Rest we found the Span- 
ish Oyster Shell, whence come the 
Pearls. They are very large, and of a 
different Form from other Oysters; 
their Colour much resembles the Tor- 
toise-Shell, when it is dress'd. There 
was left bv the Tide several strange 
Species of a mucili.gmous' slimy sub- 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



stance, though livinig, and very aptly 
mov'd at their First Appearanlce; yet, 
being left on the dry Sand. Cby the 
Beams of the Sun) soon exhale and 
Vanish. 

At our return to our Quarters the In- 
dians had killed two more I>eer. two 
wild Hogs, and three Raccoons, all very 
lean, except the Raccoons. We had 
great Store of Oysters, Conks, and 
Clamps, a Large sort of Cockles. These 
parts being very well furnished with 
Shell-Fish, Turtles of several Sorts, but 
few or none of the green, with other 
sorts of Salt-Water Fish, and in the 
Season, good Plenty of Fowl, as Cur- 
leus, Gulls, Gannets, and Pellicans. be- 
sides Duck and Mallard Geese, Swans, 
Teal, Widgeon, etc. 

On Thursday Morning we left Bulls- 
Island, and went thro' the Creeks, 
which lie between the Bay and the 
Main Land. At noon we went on Shore, 
and Got our Dinner near a Plantation 
on a Creek having the full ProsDect of 
Sewee-Bay; we sent up to the House 
but none were at Home, but a Negro of 
whom our Messenger purchas'd some 
small quantity of Tobacco and Rice. 
We came to a deserted Indian Resi- 
dence, cal'd Avendaugh-bough, where 
we rested that night. 

The next day we entered Santee 
River's Mouth, where is Fresh water, 
ocicasion'd by the extraordinary Cur- 
rent that comes down continually. With 
hard Rowing we got two Leagues up 
the River, lying all night in a Swampy 
Piece of Ground, the Weather being so 
cold all that time, we were almost 
frozen ere Morning, leaving the Impres- 
sions of our Bodies on the wet ground. 
We set Forward very early in the 
Morning, to seek some better Quarters. 

As we Row'd ud the River, we found 
the Land towards the Mouth and for 
about 15 miles up it. scarce anything 
but swamp and Percoarson. affording 
vast Ciprus-Tr©es, of which the French 



make Canoes, that will carry fifty or 
sixty barrels. After the T'ree is Moulded 
and Dug, they saw them in two pieces, 
and so put a Plank between, and a 
small Keel, to preserve them- from the 
oyster Banks, which are innumerable 
in the Creeks and Bays betwix the 
French settlement and Charles Town. 
They carry two Masts, and Bermudas 
Sails, which makes 'them very handy 
and fit for their purpose; for although 
their River fetches its first Rise from 
the Mountains, and continues a Current 
some Hundreds of Miles ere it dis- 
gorges itself, having no sound Bay or 
Sand Banks betwix the Mouth thereof 
and the Ocean. Notwithstanding all 
this, with the vast stream it affords at 
all Seasons, and the repeated Freshes it 
so often alarms the inhabitants with, 
by laving under Water Great Part of 
their Country, vet the Mouth is barr'd 
affording not above four or five foot 
Water at the Entrance. As we went up 
the River we heard a great Noise, as if 
two parties were engaged against each 
other, seeming exactly like small shot. 
When we approached nearer the Place, 
we found it to be some Sewee Indians 
firing the Canes Swamps, which drives 
out the Game, then taking their partic- 
ular stands, kill great quantities of both 
Deer, Bear, Turkies. and what Wild 
Creatures the Pa;rts afford. 

These Sewees have been formerly a 
large Nation, though now very much 
deicreased, since the English hath seat- 
ed their Land, and all other Nations of 
Indians are observed to nartake of the 
same fate, where the Europeans come, 
the Indians being a people very apt to 
catch any Distemper they are afflicted 
withal. The Small-Pox has destroyed 
many thousands of these Natives, who 
no sooner than thev are attack'd with 
the violent fevers, and the Burning 
which attends the Distemper, fling 
themselves overhead in the Water, In 
the very extremity of the Disease, 



lawson's history 



■which shutting: up the pores, hinders a 
kindly evacuation of the Pestilential 
'Matter, and drives it toack, by which 
means death most oommionlv ensues; 
not but in other Distempers which are 
epidemical, you may find among 'em 
Praxjtltioners that have extraordinary 
skill and Success in remioving those 
morbisick Qualities which afflict 'em, 
not often giolng above 100 yards from 
their abode for their Remedies, some of 
their chiefest physicians commonly car- 
rying their Compliment of Drugs con- 
tinually about them, which are Roots, 
Barks, Berries, Nuts, etc., that are 
strung upon a thread. So like a Poman^ 
der, the Physician wears them about 
Ms neick. An Indian hath been often 
found to heal an Englishman of a Mal- 
ady, for the value of a 'Match Coat; 
which the ablest of our Bnerlish Pre- 
tenders in America after repeated Ap- 
plications, have deserted the Patient as 
incurable. God having furpished every 
Country with speciflck Remedies for 
their peculiar Diseases. 

Rum, a Liquor now so much in Use 
with them, that thev will part with the 
Dearest thing they have, to purchase it; 
and when they have got a little in their 
heads are the impatients Creatures 
Living, 'till they have enough to make 
them quite Drunk; and the Most mis- 
erable spectacles when they are so, 
some falling into the Fires, burn their 
Legs or Arms, contracting the sinews, 
become cripples all their Lifetime, oth- 
ers from Precipices break their bones 
and joints, with abundance of in- 
stances, yet none are so great to deter 
them from that accurs'd Practice of 
Drunkenness, though sensible how 
many of them (are by it) hurried into 
the other World before their Time — as 
themselves Oftentimes will confess. 
The Indians, I was now speaking of, 
were not content with the common En- 
emies that lessen and destroy their 
country-men, but Invented an infallible 



Stratagem to purge their tribe, and re- 
duce their Multitude into far less num- 
bers. Their Contrivance was thus, as a 
Trader amongst them informed me. 

They seeing several Ships coming in, 
to bring the English Supplies from Old 
England, one chief part of their Cargo 
being for a Trade with the Indians, 
some of the Craftiest of them had ob- 
served, that the Ships came always in 
at one place, which made them very 
oonlident that Way was the exact road 
to England; and seeing so many ships 
come thence they believed it could not 
be far thither, esteeming the English 
that were among them no better than 
cheats, and thought if they could carry 
the Skins and Furs they got themselves 
to England, which was inhabited with 
a better sort of People than those 
amongst them., that they should pur- 
chase twenty times the Value of every 
Pelt thev sold Abroad, in consideration 
of what rates thev sold for at Home. 
The intended barter was very well ap- 
proved of, and after a general Consul- 
tation of the ablest Heads amonigst 
them, it was, Nemlne Contradicente, 
agreed upon, immediately to make an 
addition of their fleet, by building more 
canoes, and those to be of the best sort, 
and biggest Size, as fit for their intend- 
ed Discovery. Some Indians were em- 
ployed about making the Canoes, oth- 
ers to hunting, everyone to the Post he 
was most fit for. all Endeavors intend- 
ing towards an able Fleet and Car go 
for Europe. The affair was carried on 
with a great deal of Secrecy and Expe- 
dition, so as in a Small Time they had 
gotten a Navy, Loading Provisdons, 
and hands ready to set sail, leaving 
only the Old, Impotent and Minors at 
Home till their successful return. The 
Wind presenting, they set up their mat 
sails, and were scarce out of sight when 
there rose a tempest, which it's sup- 
posed carried one part of these Indian 
Merchants, by Way of the other World, 



OF NORTH CAROUNA. 



whilst the others wiere taken up at Sea 
by an English SMo and sold for Slaves 
to the Islands. The remainder are bet- 
ter satisfied with their Imbecilities in 
such an undertaking', nothing affront- 
ing them more than to rehearse their 
Voyage to England. 

Tliere being a small Current in San- 
tee River caused us to make Small Way 
from our Oars. With hard rowing we 
goit that Night to Mons. Eugee's' House, 
which stands about fifteen Miles ud the 
River, being the first Christian Settle- 
ment we met withal in the Settlement, 
and were very courteously receiv'd by 
him and his wife. 

Many of the French follow a trade 
with the Indians, living very conven- 
iently for that interest. There is about 
seventy Families seated on this River, 
who live as Decently and Happily, as 
any Planters in these Southward parts 
of America. The French being a tem- 
perate Industrious People, some of 
them bringing very little of Effects, 
yet by their endeavors and Mutual As- 
sistance amongst themselves (which Is 
highly to be Commended) have ouit- 
stript our English, who brought with 
them larger Fortunes, tho' as it seems 
less endeavour to manage their Talent 
to the best Advantage. 'Tis admirable 
to see what time and Industry will 
(with God's Blessing) effect. Carolina 
affording many strange Revolutions in 
the Age of a Man, Daily Instances pre- 
senting themselves to our view, of so 
many, from Despicable beginnings, 
which in a short time arrive to very 
splendid Conditions. Here propriety 
hath a large Scope, there being no strict 
law to bind our privileges. A Quest af- 
ter Game, being as freely and peremp- 
torily enjoyed by the meanest Planter, 
as he that is in the Highest Dignity, or 
wealthiest in the Province. Deer and 
other game that are naturally wild, be- 
ing not immiur'd or preserv'd within 
boundaries to satisfy the appetite of 



the rich alone. A poor laborer, that Is 
Master of his Gun, etc., hath as good a 
claim to have oontinu'd Coarses of Del- 
icacies crouded upon his Table, as he 
that is Master of a Greater Purse. 

We lay all that night at Mons. 
Eugee's, and the next Morning set out 
farther, to go the remainder of our 
voyage by land; at ten a Clock we pas'd 
over a narrow, deep Swamp, having 
left the three Indian Men and one 
Woman, that had pilotted the Canoe 
from Ashly River, having hired a 
Sewee Indian, a tall, lusty Fellow, who 
carried a pack of our cloaths, of great 
weight; notwithstanding his burden, 
we had much to do to keep pace with 
him. At noon we came up with several 
French Plantations, meeting with sev- 
eral creeks bv the way, the French 
were very ofllcious in assisting with 
their small Dories to pass over these 
waters, (whxDm we met coming from 
theiir dhurch) being all of them very 
clean and decent in their apparel; their 
Houses and Plantations suitable in 
neatness and Contrivance. They are all 
of the same opinion with the church of 
Geneva, there being no difference 
amongst them concerning the Punc- 
tilio's of their Christian Faith; which 
Union hath propagated a happy and de- 
lightful Concord in all other matters 
throughout the whole Neight^orhood; 
living amongst themselves as one Tribe 
or Kindred, everyone making it his 
business to be assistant to the wants 
of his country-man, preserving his es- 
tate and reputation with the same ex- 
actness and concern as he does his 
own; all seeming to share in the Mis- 
fortunes, and rejovce at the Advance, 
and Rise, of their Brethren. 

Towards the afternoon we came to 
Mons. L'Jan-dro. where we got our Din- 
ner; there coming some French ladies 
whilst we were there, who were lately 
come from Elngland, and Mons. 
L'Grand. a worthy Norman, who hath 



lawson's history 



been a grreat Sufferer in his Estate, by 
the Persecution in France, against 
those of the Protestant Religion; This 
Gentleman very kindly invited us to 
make our stay with him all night, but 
we, being intended .farther that day, 
took our Leaves, returning Acknoiwl- 
edgement of Their Favors. 

Ahout four in the afternoon we mass- 
ed over a large Ciprus run, in a small 
Oanoe; the French Doctor sent his 
Negro to Guide us over the head of a 
large Swamp; so we got that night to 
Mons. Gallian's the elder, who lives in 
a very curious contriv'd House, built of 
Brick and Stone which is gotten near 
that Place. Near here comes in the 
Road from Charles-Town and the rest 
of the English Settlement, it being a 
very good way by Land, and not above 
36 miles altho' more than 100 by water. 
I think the most difficult way I ever 
Saw, occasion'd by Reason of the mul- 
ititude of Creeks lying along the Main, 
keeping their course thro' the IMarshes, 
turning and winding like a Labyrinth, 
having the Tide of Hbb and Flood 
twenty times in less than 3 Leagues 
going. 

The next Morning very early, we 
terry'd over a Creek that runs near the 
Hjouse, and, after an Hour's travel in 
the Woods, we came to the River-side, 
where we stayed for the Indian who 
was our Guide, and was g^one artound 
by water in a small canoe, to meet us 
at the place we rested at. He came af- 
ter a small Time and fc-rrY'd us in that 
little Vessel over the Santee River 4 
mlles', and 84 miles in the woods, which 
the overflowing of freshes which then 
came down, had made a perfect sea of, 
there running an incredible current In 
the River, which had cast our small 
craft, and us away, had we not had 
this Sewee Indian Guide with us; who 
are excellent artists in managing these 
small canoes. 

Santee River at this time (from the 



usual depth of water) was risen per- 
pendicular 36 Foot, always making a 
Breach from her banks, about this sea- 
son of the year; the general opinion of 
the cause thereof is supposed to pro- 
ceed from the overflowing of the fresh- 
water lakes that lie near the Head of 
this River and other upon the same 
continent. But my opinion is that these 
vast Inundations proceed from the 
great and repeated quantities of snow 
that fall upon the Mountains which Lie 
at so Great a distance from the sea, 
therefore they have no help of being 
dissolv'd by those saline piercing par- 
ticles, as other adjacent Parts near the 
Ocean receive; and therefore lies and 
increases to a vast Bulk, until some 
mild southerly Breezes coming on a 
sudden, continue to unlock these frozen 
bodies, congeal'd by the North- West 
wind, dissipating them in liquids, and 
coming down with Impetuosity, fills 
those branches that feed these rivers, 
and causes this strange deluge which 
oft-times lays under water the adjacent 
parts on both sides this current, for 
several miles disitant from her banks, 
tho' the French and Indians affirm'd to 
me, they never knew such an extraor- 
dinary Flood there before. 

The following is a continuation of the 
History of North Carolina by John 
Lawson, surveyor general of this State, 
who made his first visit here in 1700. He 
landed at Charleston. S. C, and trav- 
eled nearly a month. This installment 
begins after his reaching the Santee 
river, in South Carolinia: 

We all, by God's Blessing, and the 
Endeavors of our Indian-Pilot, passed 
safe over the River, but was lost in the 
Woods, which seem'd like some Great 
Lake, except here and there a Knoll of 
High Land, which appear'd above the 
Water. 

We intend for Mon. Gillian's junt, but 
was Lost, none of us knowing the Way 
at that time, altho' the Indian was born 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



in that Country, it having- received so 
strange a Metamorphosis. We were in 
several Opinions concerning the right 
Way, the Indian and myself, supposed 
the House to bear one Way, the rest 
thought to the contrary; we differing, 
it was agreed on amongst us, that one- 
half should go with the Indian to find 
the House, and the other party to stay 
upon one of these dry Spots, until some 
of them returned to us, and informed 
us where it lay. 

Myself and two more were left be- 
hind, toy Reason the Canoe would not 
carry us all; we had but one gun 
amongst us, one Doad of ammunitiion, 
and no provision. Had our Men in the 
Canoe miscarried, we must (in all Prob- 
ability) there perish'd. 

In about six Hours Time from our 
Mens departure, the Indian came back 
to us in the same Canoe he went in, 
being half Drunk, which assured us 
they had found some place of refresh- 
■ment. He took us three into the Canoe, 
telling us all was Well; Padling our 
Vessel several Miles through the 
Woods, being often half full of Water; 
but at last \/e got Safe to the place we 
sought for, which proved to lie the 
same Way the Indian and I had 
guess'd it did. 

When we got to the House, we found 
our Comrades in the same trim the 
Indian was in, and several of the 
French inhabitants with them, who 
treated us very courteously, wondering 
at us undertaking such a voycge, thro' 
a Country inhabited by none but sav- 
ages, and them of so different Nations 
and Tongues. 

After we had refreshed ourselves, we 
parted from a very Kind, loving, affa- 
ble People, who wished us a Safe and 
Prosperous voyage. 

Hearing of a Camp of Santee Indians 
not far off, we set out intending to take 
up our Quarters with them that night. 
There toeing a deep run of Water in the 



Way, one of our Comrades being Top- 
Heavy, and there being nothing but a 
small pole over a Creek for a bridge, 
fell into the Water up Vo the Chin, my- 
self laughing at the accident, and not 
taking Good Heed to my steps came 
to the same Misifortune. All our bed- 
ding was wet. The Wind being at N. 
W. it froze very hard, which prepared 
such a nigj.t's lodging for me that I 
never desire to have the like again; 
the wet bedding and freezing Air had 
so Qualified our Bodies, that in the 
Morning when we Awaked, we were 
nigh Frozen to Death, until we had 
recruUed ourselves before a large fire 
of the Indians. 

Tuesday Morning we set towards the 
Congerees, leaving tiij Indian Guide 
Scipio drunk amongst the Santee In- 
dians. We went ten Miles out of our 
way to head a great Swamp, the 
freshes having filled them with such 
great quantities of Water, that the 
usual paths were render d unpassable. 
We met in our way with an Indian ^ 
Hut, where we were entertained with 
a Fat Boiled Goose, Venison, Raccoon 
and ground Nuts. We made but little 
stay. About noon we passed by sev- 
eral large Savannah's, wherein is curi- 
os ranges for Cattle, being green all the 
year; they were plentifully stor'd with 
Geese, Cranes, etc., and the adjacent 
wioods with great Flocks of Turkies. 
This Day we traveled atoout 30 miles, 
and lay all night at a House which was 
built for the Indian Trade the Master 
thereof we had parted v/ith at the 
French town, who gave us leave to 
make use of his Mansion. Such Houses 
are common in these parts, especially 
where there is Indian Towns, and Plan- 
tations near at Hand, which this place 
is well furnished withal. 

These Santee Indians are a well- 
humored and affable people and living 
near the Enghsh are bedome very 
tractable. They make themselves 



8 



lawson's history 



Cribs after a very curious manner, 
wherein tiiey secure their corn from 
Vermin, which are more ifrequent in 
these warm climates, than countries 
more Distant from the Sun. These 
pretty Fabricks are commonly sup- 
ported with eight Feet or Posts, about 
Seven Foot High fro'm the Ground, well 
daubed within and without upon Laths, 
with Loom or Clay, which makes them 
tight and fit bo keep out the smallest 
insect, there feeing a small door at the 
gable end, which ^"s made of the same 
composition and to be remov'd at 
Pleasure, feeing no bigger, than that a 
slender Man may creep in at, cement- 
ing the door up with the same earth 
when they take the Corn out of the 
Crib, and are going from Home, always 
find their Granaries in the same Pos^ 
ture they left them; theft to each other 
being altogether unpractised, never re- 
ceiving Spoils but from Foreigners. 

Hereabouts the ground is something 
higher than about Charlestown, there 
being found some Quarries of Brown 
free-stone, which I have seen made 
use of for buildings, and l.ath proved 
very durable and good. The earth here 
is mixed with white Gravel, which is 
rare, there being nothing like a Stone 
to be found, of the natural Produce, 
near the Ashly river. 

The next day about noon, we came 
to the side of a great ►awamp where 
we were forced to strip ourselves to get 
ovp-r it, which with much difficulty we 
effected. Hereabouts the late Gust of 
Wind, which happen'd in September 
last, had torn the lar.Ere Cyprus trees 
and Timbers up fey the roots; they ly- 
ing confusedly in their branches, did 
Block up the Way, making the passage 
very difficult. 

This night we got to one Scipio's Hut, 
a famous Hunter; There was nobody 
at Home, but we having (in our Com- 
pany) one that used to trade amongst 
them, we n.ade ourselves welcome to 



what his Cabin afforded, (which is a 
thing common) the Indians allowing it 
practicable to the English Traders, to 
take out of their Houses what they 
need, during their Absence, in Lieu 
whereof they 'n^st commonly leave 
some small quantity of Tobacco, Pai^.t, 
Beads, etc. We fiound a great store of 
Indian peas, (a very good Pulse) Beans, 
Oyl, Chinkapin Nuts, Corn, baibacu'd 
Peaches, and Peach-Bread; which 
Peaches being made into a Quiddony, 
and so make up into Loaves like Bar- 
ley Cakes; these cut into thin slices 
and dissolved in water, makes a very 
grateful Acid, and extraordinarily ben- 
eficial in Fevers, as has often been 
tried and approved of by our English 
Practitiioners. The Wind feeing at N. 
W., with cold weather, made us a large 
Fire, in the Indian's Cabin; being very 
intent upon our Cookery, we set the 
dwelling on Fire, and with much ado, 
put it out, tho' with the Loss of Part 
of the Roof. 

The next day, we travell'd on our 
Way, and about Noon, came up with a 
settlement of Santee Indiana, there be- 
ing Plantations lying scattering here 
and there, for a great many miles. 
They came out to meet us, being ac- 
quainted with one of our Company, and 
made us very welcome with fat barba- 
cu'd Venison, which the Woman of the 
Cabin took and t'ore in Pieces with her 
teeth, so put it into a mortar, beating it 
to Rags, afterwards stews it with Wa- 
ter, and other Ingredients, which 
makes a very savoury Dish. 

At these Cabins came to visit us ihe 
King of the Santee Nation. He brought 
with him their chief Doctor, or Physi- 
cian, who was warmly and neatly clad 
with a Match-Coat, made of Turkies 
Feathers, which makes a pretty Shew, 
seeming as if it was a Garment of the 
deepest silk shag. These Indians have 
great skill in their medical matters, 
this doctor perfected his cures, by prop- 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



ei" Vegitables, etc., of which they have 
plenty, and are well acquainted with 
their specifick virtue. I have seen such, 
admirable Cures, performed Ijy these 
Savages, which would puzzle a great 
many graduate practitioners, to trace 
their Steps in healing, t. ith the same 
expeditiion, Ease, and Success; using no 
racking instruments in their Chirur- 
gery, nor nice Rules of Diet, and Phy- 
sick, to certify the saying "Qui medici 
vivit, miserere .ivit." In wounds which 
"^penetrate deep, and seem Mortal they 
order a spare Diet, with drinking 
Fountain Water. The Indians are an 
easy, credulous PeopK, and most noto- 
riously cheated by their priests and 
conjurers, b'oth Trades meeting ever 

'^ in one Person, and most commonly a 
spice of Quackship, added to the other 
two ingredients, which renders that 
cunning Knave the Imposter to be more 
rely'd upon; then 9 a fitter instrument 
t'o cheat these i^^orant people. The 
priest and Conjurers being never ad- 
mitted to their practise 'till years and 
the experience of repeatel Services 
hath wrought their Esteem amongst 
the Nations they l^elong to. 

The Santee King who was in com- 
pany with this No-nosed Doctor, is the 
'm'ost absolute Indian Ruler in these 
Parts, al^ho' he is head but of a Small 
People, in respect to some other 
Nations of Indians, that I have seen. 
He can put any of i- s peiople to death 
that hath committed any fault, which 
he judges worthy of so great a Punish- 
ment. This authority is rarely found - 
amongst these Savages, for they act 
not (commonly) by a determinative 
Voice in their Laws, towards any one 
that hath committed murder, or such 

-^ other great crime, but take this meth- 
od; him to who the injury was done, or 
if Dead, the nearest of his kindred, 
prosecutes by Way of an actual Re- 
venge, being himself if opportunity 
serves his intent, both Judge and Exe- 



cutioner, performing so much mischief 
on his offender, or hi-- nearest Relation 
until such time that he is fully satis- 
fy 'd; Yet this revenge is not so infalli- 
ble, 'but it may be bought off with 
Beads, Tobacco, and such l.ke Com- 
modities that are useful amongst them, 
though it were the most sable Villany 
that could be acted by Mankind. 

Some that attended the Kiner present- 
ed me with an odoriferous, balsamick 
Root, of a fragrant smell, and Taste, 
the name I know not; they Chew it in 
the Mouth, and by that simple Appli- 
catiion, heal desperate Wounds, both 
green and old, that small quantity I 
had was given inwardly to those trou- 
bled with the belly-ach, which remedy 
failed not to give present Help, the 
Pain leaving the Patient soon after tak- 
ing the Root. 

Near to these Cabins are several 
Tombs made after the fashion of the 
Indians; the largest and chiefest of 
them was the Sepulchre of the late In- 
lian King of the Santees, a Man of 
Great Power, not only ai.:ongst his own 
subjects, but dreaded "by the Neighbor- 
ing Nations for his great Valour and 
Conduct, having as large a Preroga- 
tive in his Way of Ruling, as the Pres- 
ent King I now spoke of. 

The manner of their Interment is 
thus: A Mole or Pyramid of Earth is 
■raised, the Mol . thereof being wiorked 
very smooth and even, sometimes high- 
er or lower, according to the dignity 
of the Person whose Monument it is. 
On the Top there is an Umbrella, made 
Ridge- Ways, like the roof of an House; 
this is supported by nine Stakes or 
small Posts, the grave being about 6 
to 8 foot in Length, and Four Foot in 
Breadth; about it is hung Gourds, 
Feathers, and other suchlike Trophies, 
placed there by the dead man's rela- 
tions, in Respect to him in the Grave. 
The other part of the Funeral Rites are 
thus; As s'oon as the party is dead, they 



lO 



lawson's history 



lay the corpse on r piece of bark in 
the Sun, seasoning or embi^lming it 
with a small root beaten to p'owder, 
which looks as red as Vermillion; the 
same is anixed with Bear's Oil to beau- 
tiffy the Hair, and to preserve their 
heads from being lousy, it growing 
'beautifully in these parts of America. 
After the Carcass has laid a day or two 
in the Sun, they remove it and lay it 
upon Crotches cut on purpose for the 
support thereof from the Earth; Then 
they anoint it all over with the fore- 
mentiioned ingredients of the powder of 
this root and Bear's Oil. When it is 
so done, they cover it over very exactly 
with bark of the Pine or Cyprus Tree, 
to prevent any Rain to fall upon it, 
sweeping the ground very clean all 
about it. Some of his nearest Kin 
brings all the temporal Estate he was 
possess'd of at his death, as Guns, 
Bows, Arrows, Beads, Feathers, Match- 
Coat, etc. This relation is the chief 
mourner, being clad in moss, and a 
stick in his hand, keeping a mournful 
ditty for three or four days, his face 
being black with the Smoke of Pitch 
Pine mingled with Bear's Oil. All the 
while he tells the dead Man's relations, 
and the rest of the spectators who that 
Dead Person was, and of the Great 
Feats performed in his lifetime; all of 
-what he speaks, tending to the praise 
of the defunct. As soon as the flesh 
grows mellow, and will cleave from 
the bone, they get it off, and burn it, 
making all the bones very clean, then 
aroint them with the ingredients afore- 
said, wrapping up the Skull (very care- 
fully) in a cloth artificially wnoven of 
•Possum's Hair. (These Indians make 
Girdles, Sashes, Garters, etc., after the 
same manner) The bones they very 
carefully preserve in a wooden box, 
every year oiling and cleansing them; 
by this means preserve them for many 
ages, that you may see an Indian in 
possession of the bones of Lis grandfa- 



ther, or some of his relatiions of a larg- 
er Antiquity.^ They have other sorts 
of Tombs, as where an Indian is slain, 
in that place they make a heap of 
stones, (or sticks where stones are not 
Vo 'be found) to this memorial every 
Indian that passes bv adds a stone to 
augment the Jd.eap, in respect to the 
deceas'd hero. 

We had a very large Swamp to pass 
over near the House, and would have 
hir'd our Landlord to be our guide, but 
he seem'd unwilling, and sio we press'd 
him no farther about it. He was the 
tallest Indian I ever saw, being seven 
foot high, and a very straight oompleat 
person, esteem'd on by the King for his 
Great Art in Hunting, always carrying 
with him an artificial Head to hunt 
withal; they are made of the Head of a 
Buck, the back part of the Horns being 
scraped and hollow, for lightness of 
carriage. The skin is left to the set- 
ting of the shoulders, which is lined all 
around with small hoops, and flat sort 
■of lathes, to hoi I it lopen for the arm to 
go in. They have a way to preserve 
the eyes as if Living. The Hunter 
Puts on a Match-Coat made of Skin, 
with the Hair on, and a piece of the 
white part of the Deer's skin, that 
gnows on the Breast, which is fasten'd 
to the neck end of this stalking head, 
so hangs down. In these Habiliments 
an Indian will go as near a Deer as he 
pleases, the exact motion and Behav- 
ior of a Deer being so well counter- 
feited by 'em, that several times it 
hath been known for two hunters to 
oome up with a stalking head together 
and unknown to each other, so that 
they have killed an Indian instead of 
a Deer, which hatn happened some- 
times to be a Brother or some Dear 
Friend; for whicn reason they allow 
not of that sort of practise, where the 
nation is Populious. 

Within half a Mile of the House we 
passed over a prodigious wide and deep 



OF NORTH CAROIvINA. 



II 



svVamp, being forced to strip stark- 
Naked, and much ado to save ourselves 
from drowning in this Fatigue. We, 
with much ado, got thro; going that 
day about five miles farther, and came 
to three more Indian Cabins, cialled in 
the Indian tongue, Hickerau, by tlis 
English Traders, The Black House, 
being pleasantly seated on a high bank, 
by a Branch of Santee River. One of 
our Compiany, that had traded amongst 
these Indans told us, that in one of the 
Cabins was his Father-in-law, Ive 
called him so, by reason that the o^d 
man had given him, a young Indian girl, 
that wias his daughter, to lie with him, 
make bread, and be necessary in what 
«l>e was capable to assist him in, dur- 
ing his abode amongst them. 

When we came thither first, there 
wias nobody at Home, so the son made 
bold to search his father's granary for 
Corn, and other Provisions. He 
brought us some Indian maiz and peas, 
whichi are of a reddish color, and eat 
well, yet color the liquor they are boil- 
ing in, as if it were a Lixivium of red 
tartar. After we had been about an 
hour in the House, where was millions 
of flees, the Indian Cabins being often 
fuller of such vernim, than any Dog- 
Kennel, the old 'Man dame to us, and 
seem'd very glad to see his Son-in- 
Law. 

This Indian is a great Conjurer, as it 
appears by the Sequel, The Seretee or 
Santee Indians were gone to War 
agtainst 'the Hooks and Backbooks 
Nations, living near the mouth of Win- 
yau River. 'Those that were left at 
Home (which are commonly old people 
and children, had heard no news for a 
long time of their men at War. This 
mian at the entreaty of these Peonle, 
(being held to be a great Sorcerer 
among them) went to know what pos- 
ture their fighting men were in. His 
exorcism was carried on thus; He 
dress'd himself in a clean white dress'd 



deer Skin; a Grea:t Fire being made in 
the middle of the Plantation, the In- 
dians sitting all around it. The con- 
jurer was blindfolded then he surround- 
ed the Fire several Times, I think 
thrice; leaving the Company he went 
into the Woods, where he stayed about 
half an Hour, returning to them, sur- 
rounded the Fire as before, leaving 
them, went the second Time into the 
Woods, at which time there came a 
huge Swarm of Flies, very large, 
they flying all around the fire several 
Times, and at last fell into it, and were 
visibly consumed. Immediately >after 
the Indian Conjurer made a huge Lille- 
loo, and howling very frightfully, pres- 
ently an Indian went and caught hold 
of him, leading him to the Fire. The 
old Wizard was so feeble and weak, 
being not able to stand alone, and all 
over in a sweat, and as wet as if he 
had fallen into the River. After a 
while he recovered his strength, assur- 
ing them that their men were near a 
river, and could not pass over it until 
so many days, but would in such a 
Time, all return in safety to their 
Nation. All which proved true at the 
Indians Return which was not long 
after. This Story the Englishman, his 
Son-in-Law, affirmed to me. 

The old Man stayed with us about 
two hours, and told us we were we'- 
come to stay there all Night, and take 
what his cabin afforded; then leaving 
us went into the woods to some Hunt- 
ing Quarter not far awav. 

The next morning w^e pursued our 
Voyage, finding the land to improve it- 
self in pleasiantness and richness of 
soil. When we had gone about 10 
Miles one of our Companions tir'd, 
being not able to travel any farther so 
we went forwa,rd, leaving the poor de- 
jected traveller with Tears in his Eyes 
to return to Ch'arles-Toiwn, and travel 
back again over so much bad way, we 
having pass'd thro' the worst of our 



no 



12 



i,awson's history 



journey, the land here being very his:h 
and dry, very few Swamps, and those 
dry, and a little way throug^h. We 
ti^avell'd about twenty Miles, leading 
near a Savannah that was overflown 
with water; where we were very short 
of victuals, but finding the woods 
nearly burnt, and on fire in many 
places, which gave us gre'at hopes that 
Indians were not far ofE. 

Next morning very early we waded 
through the Savannah, the Path lying 
there and about 10 o'clock came to a 
Hunting Quiarter of a great many San- 
tees; they made us all welcome, show- 
ing a great deal of joy at our coming, 
giving us barbacu'd Turkey, Bear's Oil 
and Venison. 

Here we hired Santee Jack, (a good 
Hunter and well-humored fellow) to be 
our pilot to the Congress Indians; we 
gave him a Stroud-water. After two 
hours refreshment we went on, and got 
that day about twenty Miles; we lay 
by a small swift run of water, which 
was pav'd at tike bottom with a sort 
of stone much like Tripoli, and so light 
that I fancied it would precinitate in no 
Stream, but where it naturally erew. 
The weather was very cold, the winds 
holding Northerly. We made our- 
selves as merry as we could, having a 
good supper with the scraps of the 
Venison we had given us by the In- 
dians, having killed three Teal and a 
Possum.; which Medly all together 
made a curious Ragoo. 

This day all of us had a mind to have 
rested, but the Indian was much 
against it, alledging that the place we 
lay in was not good to hunt in, telling 
us if we would go on, by Noon he would 
bring us to a more convenient place; 
so we moved on, and about twelve a 
clock we came to the most amazing 
prospect I have ever seen in Carolina; 
we traveled by a Swamp side, which 
swamp I believe to be no less than 20 
miles over, the other side being as far 



as I could well discern, there appearing 
great riges of Mountains, bearing from 
us W. N. W. One Alp with a Top like 
a sugar loaf, advanced its head above 
all the rest very considerably; the day 
was very serene, which gave us the ad- 
vantage of seeing a long way; These 
Mountains were clothed all over with 
Trees, which seemed to us to be very 
large Timbers. 

At the sight of this fair Prospect we 
stayed all night; our Indian going 
about half an h.our before us, had pro- 
vided three fat turkies v, re we got up 
to him. 

The Swamp I now spoke of is not a 
miry Bog, as others generally are, but 
you go down to it through a steep 
Bank, at the foot of which begins this 
Valley, where you may go dry for per- 
haps 200 yards, then you meet with a 
small Brook or Run of Water,about 2 or 
3 foot deep, then dry Land for such an- 
other space, so another Brook, thus 
continuing. The land of this Percoar- 
son, or Valley, being extraordinarily 
rich, and runs of water well stored with 
Fowl. It is the Head of one of the 
brartches of Santee River; but a fur- 
ther discovery time would not permit; 
only one thing is very remarkable; 
there growing all over this Swamp a 
tall lofty Bay Tree, but is not the same 
as in England. These being in their 
verdure all the winter long; which ap- 
pears here when you stand on thie 
ridge, (where our path lay) as if it were 
one pleasant, green field, and as even 
as a Bowling-green to the Eye of the 
Beholder; being hemmed in on one side 
with these Ledges of vast High Moun- 
tains. 

Viewing the land here we found an 
extraordinary rich, black Mould, and 
some of a copper color, both sorts very 
good; the land in some places is much 
burthened with Iron, Stone, here being 
a great store of it seemingly very good; 
The eviling Springs, which are many in 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



13 



these parts, issuing out of the Rocks, 
which water we drank of, it colouring 
the Excrements of Travellers, (by its 
chalybid Quality) as black as a coal. 
When we were all asleep in the begin- 
ning of the night, we were awakened 
with the Dismalest and Most hideous 
Noise that ever pierc'd my ears; This 
sudden surprize incipacitated us of 
guessing what this threatening noise 
might proceed from; "but our Indian 
Pilot (who knew these parts very well), 
acquainted us, that it was customary 
to hear such Musick along the Swamp- 
side, there being endless numbers of 
panthers, tygers. Wolves, and other 
Beasts of Prey, which take the Swamp 
for their abode during the Day, coming 
in whole droves to hunt the Deer dur- 
ing the Night, making this frightful 
Ditty 'till days appears, then all is still 
as in other places. 

The next day it proved a small 
drizzly Rain which is rare; there hap- 
pening not the tenth part of Fogsry 
Weather towards these Mountains, as 
visits those parts near the Sea-board. 
The Indian killed 15 Turkies this dav, 
there coming out of the Swamp about 
Sunrising floicks of these Fowl; contain- 
ing several hundred in a gang, who 
feed upon the Acrons it being most Oak 
that grow in these Woods. There are 
but very few Pines in those Quarters. 

ESarly the next morning we set for- 
ward for the Congeree Indians, parting 
with that delicious prospect. By the 
way, our guide killed more Turkies. and 
two Polcats, which he eat, esteeming 
them before fat Turkies. Some of the 
Turkies which we eat while we stayed 
there, I believe weighed no less than 40 
punds. 

The Land we passed over this dav 
was most of it good, and the worst 
passable. At night we killed a possum, 
being cloy'd with Turkeys, made a dish 
of that, which tasted much between 



young pork and veal, their Fat being 
as white as any I ever saw. 

Our Indian having this day killed 
good store of provisions with his gun, 
he always shot with a single Ball, miss- 
ing but two shoots in above forty; they 
being curious artists in managing a 
gun, to make it carry either ball or 
shot true. When they have bought a 
piece and find it to shoot any wavs . 
crooked, they take the barrel out of the 
StQick, cutting a notch in a Tree, where- 
in they set it streight, sometimes 
shooting away above 100 Loads of am- 
munition, before they bring the Gun to 
shoot according to their Mind. We took 
up our Quarters by a Fish Pond Side; 
the pits in the Woods stand full of 
Watei% naturally breed Fish in them, 
in great Quantities. We cooked our 
Supper, but having neither Bread, or 
Salt, our Fat Turkies began to be loath- 
some to us, altho' we were never want- 
ing of a good appetite, yet a Continu- 
ance of one Diet made us wearv. 

The next morning Santee Jack told 
us, we should reach the Indian Settle- 
mennietimes that Day, about noon we 
passed by several fair Savannas, very 
rich and dry; seeing great copses of 
many Acres that bore nothing but 
Bushes about the Bigness of Box-trees; 
which (in the season) afford great 
quantities of small Blackberries, very 
pleasant Fruit and very much like our 
Blues or Huckleberries, that grow on 
Heaths in England. Hard by the Sa- 
vannahs we found the Town, where we 
halted; there was not above one man 
left with the Women; me rest being 
gone a hunting for a Feast. The Women 
were very busily engaged in Gaming; 
the Name or Grounds of it I could not 
learn, though I looked on above two 
hours. Their Arithmetick was kept with 
a heap of Indian Grain. When their 
Play was ended the King, or Caffetta's 
Wife, invited us into her Cabin. The In- 
dian Kings always entertaining Trav- 



14 



lawson's history 



ellers, either English or Indians; taking: 
it as a great Affront if they pass'd by 
their Cabins, and take up their Quar- 
ters at any other Indian's House; The 
Queen set Victuals before us, which 
good compliment they use generally as 
soon as you come under their roof. 

The Town consists not of above a 
dozen Houses, they having other strag- 
ling Plantations up and down the Coun- 
try, and are seated upon a small Branch 
of Santee River. Their Place hath cu- 
rious dry Savannahs and Marshes ad- 
joining to it, and would prove an ex- 
ceedingly thriving Range for Cattle, 
and Hogs, provided the English were 
seated thereon. Besides the Land is 
good for Plantations. 

These Indians are a small people, 
having lost much of their former Num- 
bers, by intestine Broils; but most by 
the Small-Pox which hath often visited 
them, sweeping away whole towns; oc- 
casioned by the immoderate Govern- 
ment of themselves in their Sickness; 
as I have mentioned before, treating of 
the Sewees. Neither do I know any Sav- 
ages that have traded with the English, 
but have been great losers bv this Dis- 
temper. 

We found here good store of Chinka- 
pin Nuts which they gather in Winter 
great Quantities of, drying them,; so 
keep these Nuts in great Baskets for 
their use; likewise Hickerie Nuts, which 
they beat betwix two great stones, 
then sift them to thicken their Venison 
with; the small shell precipitating to 
the bottom of the Pot, whilst the Ker- 
nel in Form of flower, mixes with the 
Liquor. Both these Nuts made into 
Meal make la curious Soup, either with 
Clear Water, or in any Meat Broth. 

From the Nation of Indians until 
such Time as you come to the Tuskei- 
ruros in North Carolina, you will see 
no long Moss upon the trees, which 
space of ground contains above 500 
Miles. This seeming miracle in Nature, 



is oiccasioned by the Highness of the 
Land, it being Dry and Healthful; for 
though this Moss bears a Seed in a 
sort of a small Cod, yet it is generated 
in or near low swampy Grounds. 

The Congerees are kind and affable 
to the English, the Queen being very 
kind, giving us what Rarities her Cabin 
afforded, as Loblolly made of Indian 
Corn and Dry'd Peaches. These Con- 
gerees have abundance of Storks and 
Cranes in their Savannas. They take 
them before they can fly, and breed 
them as tame and familiar as a Dung- 
hill Fowl. They had a tame Crane a.t 
one of these Cabins, that was scarce 
less than six foot in height, his head 
being round, with a shining natural 
Crimson Hue, which they all have. 
These are a very Comelv sort of In- 
dians, there being a strange Difference 
in the Proportion and Beauty of these 
Heathens. Altho' their Tribes or Na- 
tions border one upon another, yet you 
may discern as great an Alteration in 
their features and Dispositions, as you 
can in their speech, which generally 
proves quite different from each other, 
tho' their Nations be not above twenty 
Miles in Distance. The Women here b»- 
ing as handsome as most I have met 
withal, being several fine figured 
Brounetto's amongst them. These las- 
sies stick not upon hand long, for they 
marry when very young, as at 12 or 14 
years of age. The English Traders are 
seldom without an Indian Female for 
his bedfellow, alleging these reasons ass 
sufficient to allow of such familiarity. 
First, they being remote from any 
White People, that it preserves their 
friendship with the Heiathens, they es- 
teeming a white man's Child much 
above one of their own getting, the In- 
dian Mistress ever securing her WhitP 
friend provisions whilst he stays 
amongst them, and lastly the corres- 
pondence makes them learn the Indian 
tongue sooner, they being of the 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



15 



Frenchmen's opinion, how thiat an Eng- 
lish Wife teaches her Husband more 
English in one nisrht, than a School- 
master can in a week. 

We saw at the Casseta's Oabin the 
Strangest Spectacle of Antiquity I ever 
knew, it being an old Indian Spuah, 
that, had I been to have guess'd at her 
age by her aspect, old Parr's Head (the 
Welch Methusalem) was a face in 
Swadling-Clouts to hers. Her Skin 
hung in Reaves like a Rag of Tripe. By 
a fair Computation, one would might 
have justly thought it would have con- 
tained three such Carcasses as hers was 
then. She had one of her hands con- 
tracted by some accident in the Fire, 
they sleeping alwiays by it, and often 
fall into sad disasters, especially in 
their Drunken Moods. I made the strict- 
est Inquiry that was possible, and by 
what I could gather, she was consider- 
ably above 100 years old, notwithstand- 
ing she smok'd Tobacco, and eat her 
Victuals, to all Appearance as heartily 
as one of 18. One of our Comoany 
spoke some of their Language, and hav- 
ing not forgotten his former Intrigues 
with the Indian Lassies, would fain 
have dealing with some of the young 
Female Fry; but thev refused him, he 
having nothing that these Girls Es- 
teemed. At night we were laid in the 
Queen's Cabin, where the Queen and 
the old Squiah pig'd in with us, the for- 
mer was very much disfigured with 
Tettars, and very reserv'd, which dis- 
appointed our fellow Traveller in his 
Intrigues. 

The Women smoak much Tobacco, (as 
most Indians do.) They have pipes 
whose heads are cut out of stone, and 
will hold an ounce of Tobacco and 
some much Less. They have terge wood- 
en Spoons as big as small Ladles, 
which they make little use of, lading 
the Meat out of the Bowls with their 
Fingers. 

In the Morning we rose before Day, 



having hired a Guide over night to con- 
duct us on our Way; but it was too 
soon for him to stir out, the Indians 
never setting forward until the Sun is 
an Hour or two high, and hiath exhall'd 
the Dew from the earth. The Queen 
got us a good Breakfast before we left 
her; she had a young Child, which was 
much afflicted with the Cholick; for 
which Distemper she infused a root in 
Water, which was held in a Goard. this 
she took into her mouth, and spurted it 
into the Infant's, which gave it ease. 
After we had. eaten we set out (with 
our new Guide) for the Wateree In- 
dians. We went over a good deal of 
indifferent Land this Day. Here be- 
gins to appear very good Marble, 
which continues more and less for the 
space of 500 miles. We lay all night by 
a run of Water, as we always do, (if 
possible) for the Convenience of it. The 
Weather was very cold. We went this 
day about 30 Miles from, the Congerees. 

In the Morning we made no stay to 
get our Breakfast, but hastened on our 
voyage, the Land increasing in Marble 
and Richness of Soil. At noon we 
halted getting our Dinner upon a mar- 
ble stone, that rose it self half a foot 
above the Surface of the Earth, and 
might contain the Compass of a quar- 
ter of an Acre of land, being very even, 
there growing upon it in some places a 
small red Berrv like a Salmon Soawn, 
there boiling out of the Main Rock cu- 
rious Springs of as Delicious Water, as 
ever I drank in any Parts i ever trav- 
el'd in. 

These parts likewise affords good 
free Stone, fit for Building, and of sev- 
eral sorts. The land here is pleasantly 
seated, with pretty little Hills and Val- 
leys, the rising Sun at once shewing his 
gorious reflecting Rays on a great 
IMany of these little Mountains, We 
went this day about 20 miles, our 
Guide walking like a Horse, till we had 
saddled him with a good heavy Pack 



i6 



lawson's history 



of some Part of our Cloaths and Bed- 
ding; by which means we kept Pace 
with him. 

This Night we lay by a Run-side, 
where I found a, fine yellow earth, the 
same with Bruxels-Sand, which Gold- 
smiths used to cast withal; giving a 
good price in England and other parts. 
Here is likewise the true Blood Stone 
and considerable Quantities of Fullers- 
Earth, which I took a Proof of, by 
scouring great Spots out of Woollen, 
and it prov'd very good. 

As we were on our road this niorning 
our Indian shot at a Tyger that crossed 
the Way, he being a great distance from 
us. I believe he did him no Harm, 
because he sat on his Breech after- 
wards and look'd upon us. I suppose ne 
expected to have had a Spaniel Bitch 
that I had with me, for his breastfast. 
who run towards him, but in the Mid- 
way stopped her career, and came 
sneaking back to us with her Tail be- 
twix her Legs. 

We saw in the Path a great many 
trees blown up by the Roots, at the bot- 
tom whereof stuck great Quantities of 
fine red Bole; I believe nothing inferior 
to that of Venice or Lemma. We found 
some holes in the earth which were 
full of a water as black as ink. I 
thought that Tincture might proceed 
from some Mineral, but had not time to 
make a farther discovery. About noon 
we passed over a pleasant stony Brook, 
whose water was of a Bluish Cast^ as it 
is for several hundreds of Miles to- 
wards the Heads of the Rivers, I sup- 
pose occasioned by the vast Quantities 
of Marble lying in the bowels of the 
Earth. The Springs that feed these riv- 
ulets lick up some portions of the 
'Stones in the Brooks, which Dissolution 
gives this Tincture, as it appears in all 
or most of the Rivers, and Brooks of 
this Country, whose rapid streams are 
like those in Yorkshire, and other 
northern counties of England. The In- 



dians talk of many sorts of Fish which 
they afford, but we had not time to dis- 
cover their Species. 

I saw here and there some Indian 
Plantations formerly, there being sev- 
eral pleasant Fields of cleared Ground 
and excellent soil, now well spread with 
fine-bladed grass, and Strawberry 
vines. 

The Mould here is excessive rich, and 
a Country very pleasant to the Eye, 
had it the convenience of a navisrab'e 
river as all new colonies (of Necessity) 
require it would make a delig-htful set- 
tlement. 

We went eight miles further and 
came to the Weteree Chickanee Indians. 
The Land holds good, there being not 
a Spot of bad Land to be seen in Sev- 
eral Days gone. 

The People of this Nation are Likely 
tall Persons, and great Pilferers, steal- 
ing from us anything thev could lay 
their hands on, though very respectful 
in giving us what Victuals we wanted. 
We lay in their Cabins all Night, being 
Dark, Smoky Holes, as ever I saw any 
Indian Dwellings. This Nation is much 
more Populous than the Congerees, 
their Neighbors, yet understand not one 
another's speech. They are very poor 
in Englislh effects, several of them hav- 
ing no guns, making use of Bows and 
Arrows, being la lazy, idle People, a 
Quality incident to most Indians, but 
none to that degree as these, as I never 
met withal. 

Their Country is wholly free from 
Swamps and Quagmires, being high dry 
land, and consequently healthful, pro- 
ducing large cornstalks and fair Grain. 

Next Morning we took off our Petards 
with a razor, the Indians looking on 
with much admiration. They told us 
they had never seen the like before, and 
that our Knives cut far better than 
those that came amongst the Indians. 
They would fain have borrowed our 
Razors, as thev had our knives, scis- 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



17 



sors, and tobacco Tongs, the Dav be- 
fore, being as ingenious at picking of 
Pockets as any, I believe the World af- 
fords; for they will steal with their feet. 
Yesterday one of our Company walking 
not so fast as the rest was left behind. 
He being out of sight before we miss'd 
him, and not being up to us, though we 
stayed a considerable time on the road 
for 'him, we stuck up Sticks In the 
Oround and left other Tokens to direct 
him which way we were gone. But he 
came not to us that night, which g:ave 
us occasion to believe some of the 
Heathens had killed him, for his 
Cloathes, or the Savage Beasts had de- 
voured him in the Wilderness, he hav- 
ing nothing about him to strike fire 
withal. As we were debating which 
way we should send to find him, he 
overtook us, having a Waxsarw Indian 
for his Guide. He told us he had 
missed the Path, and got to another 
Nation of Indians, but 3 Miles off, who 
at that Time held great Feasting. Thev 
had entertained him very respectfully, 
and sent the Indian with him to invite 
us amongst them, wondering that we 
would not take up our Quarters with 
them, but make our Abode with such a 
Poor Sort of Indians, that were not 
capable of entertaining us according 
to our deserts; We received the Mes- 
senger with a great many Ceremonies, 
acceptable to those sort of Creatures. 
Bidding our Wiaterree King adieu, v/e 
set forth towards the Waxsaws, going 
along clear'd ground all the Way. Up- 
on our arrival, we were led into a very 
large and lightsome Cabin, the like I 
have not met withal. They laid Furs 
and Deer Skins upon cain benches for 
us to sit or lie upon, bringing immedi- 
ately stewed peaches and green Corn, 
that is preserved in their cabins be- 
fore it is ripe, and sodden and boiled 
when they use it, which is a pretty sort 
of Food, and a great Increaser of the 
Blood. 



These Indians are of an extraordinary 
Stature, and call'd by their Neighbors 
Flat Heads, which seems a very suita- 
ble Name for them. In their infancy, 
their nurses lay the Back-part of their 
Children's Heads on a Bag of Sand, 
(such as engravers use to rest tteir 
plates upon.) They use a roll, which is 
placed upon tne babe's Forehead, it 
being laid with its back on a fiat Board, 
and swaddled hard down thereon, from 
one End of this Engine, to the other. 
This Method makes the child's Bodv 
and limbs as straight as an Arrow. 
There being there some young Indians 
that 'are perhaps crookedly inclin'd, 
at their first coming into the World, 
who are made perfectly straight by thi& 
Method. I never saw an Indian of a 
mature age, that was anyways crooked, 
except by accident and that way sel- 
dom; for they cure and prevent deform- 
ities of the limbs and Body, very ex- 
actly. The Instrument I spoke of be- 
fore, being a sort of a Press, that is let 
out and in more or less, according to 
the discretion of the Nurse, in which, 
they make the Child's Head flat, it 
makes the Eyes stand a prodigious 
Way asunder, the Hair hangs over the 
Forehead like the eve's of a House, 
which seems very frightful; They being 
ask'd the reason why they practis'd 
this Method, reply'd the Indian's sight 
was much strengthened and quicker 
thereby to discern the Game in hunt- 
ing at larger Distance, and so never 
miss'd of becoming expert Hunters, the 
perfection of which they all aim at, as 
we do to beicome experienced Soldiers, 
learned school-Men, or Artists in Me- 
chaniks; He that is a good Hunter 
never misses of being a Favourite 
amongst the Women; the prettiest Girls 
being always bestow'd upon the chief- 
test Sports-Men, and those of a grosser 
Mould, upon the useless Lubbers. Thus 
they have a graduation amongst them 
as well as other Nations. As for the 



lawson's history 



solemnity of marriages among-st them, 
kepi with so much ceremony as divers 
Authors affirm, it never appear'd 
amongst those many Nations I have 
been withal, -any wise than in this man- 
ner. I have seen several Couples amontr 
tbem, that have been so reserv'd, as to 
live together for many Years, faithful 
to each other. 

At our Waxsaw Landlord's Cabin, 
was a Woman employed in no other 
Business than Cookery; it being a 
House of great Resort. The fire was 
surrounded with Roast Meat, or Bar- 
bakues, and the Pots continually boil- 
ing full of Meat, from Morning- until 
Night. This She-cook was the cleanest 
1 Imve ever seen among the Heathens 
of America, washing her Hands before 
aihe undertook to do any Cookery; and 
repeated this useful Decency very often 
during a day. She made us as White- 
Bread as any English could have done, 
and was full as neat and expeditious, 
in her Affairs. It happened to be one 
of their great Fetes when we were 
there; the first day when we were there 
arrived an Ambassador from the Kimr 
of Sapona, to treat with these Indians 
about some important affairs. He was 
painted with Vermillion all over his 
body, having a very large Cutlass stuck 
in his Girdle, and a Fusee in his Hand; 
At Night the Revels began where this 
foreign Indian was admitted; the King 
and War Captain inviting us to see 
their Masquerade. This Feast was held 
in commemoration of the Plentiful Har- 
vest of Corn they had reaped the Sum- 
mer before, with an united Supplication 
for the like plentiful produce for the 
Year ensuing. These revels were car- 
ried on in a House made for that pur- 
pose, it being done rounds with white 
benches of fine Canes joining along the 
wall; and a place for the Door being 
left, which is so low, that a man must 
stoop very much to enter therein. This 
Edifice resembles a large Hay Rick: its 



top being pyramidal, and much bigger 
than their other Dwellings, and at the 
Building whereof every one assists un- 
til it is finished. All their Dwelling 
houses are covered with Bark, but this 
differs very much; for it is very arti- 
ficially thatched with Sedge and 
Rushes. As soon as it is finished t'hev 
ptoce some one of their Chiefest men to 
dwell therein, charging him with the 
Diligent preservation thereof, as the 
Prince commits the Charge of a Fort or 
Castle, to some subject he thinks 
worthy of that trust. In these state 
Houses is transacted all public and 
Private Business, relating to the affairs 
of the Government, as the Audience of 
Foreign Ambassadors from other In- 
dian rulers. Consultation of Waging 
and Making War, Proposals of their 
Trade with Neighboring Indians, or the 
English who happen to come amongst 
them. In this Theater the most aeed 
and wisest meet, determining what to 
Act, and what may be most convenient 
to omit, old Age being held in as a great 
Veneration amongst these Heathens, 
as amongst any People you may meet 
withal in any part of the World. 

Whensoever an aged man is speaking, 
none ever interrupts him. (the contrary 
Practice the English and other Euro- 
peans, too much use) the Company 
yielding a great deal of Attention to his 
Tale, with a continued silence, and an 
exact Demeanour, during the Oration. 
Indeed, the Indians are a People that 
never interrupt one another in their 
Discourse, no man so much as offering 
to open his moutlh, until the Speaker 
has utter'd his Intent. When an Eng- 
lishman comes amongst them, perhaps 
every one is acquainted with him, yet, 
first the King bids him welcome, after 
him the War Captain, so on graduaUv 
fi-om High to Low; not one of all these 
speaking to the White Guest, till his 
Superior has ended his Salutation. 
Amongst Women it seems impossible to 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



19 



find a Scold; if they are prevoked or 
affronted by their Husbands or some 
other, they resent the Indignity offered 
them in silent Tears, or by refusing- 
their Meat; Would some of our Euro- 
pean Daughters of Thunder set these 
Indians for a Pfattern, there might be 
more quiet families found amongst 
them, occasion'd by that unruly mem- 
ber, the tong-ue. 

Festintition proceeds from the Devil 
(says a Learned Doctor) a Passion the 
Indians seem wholly free of; they de- 
termine no Business of Moment, with- 
out a great deal of Deliberation and 
Wariness. None of their Affairs appear 
to be attended with Impetuosity, or 
Haste, being more content with the 
common Accidents incident to Human 
Nature, as (losses, contrary Winds, 
bad Weather, and Poverty) than those 
of more civilized Countries. 

Now, to return to our state House, 
whither we were entertained by the 
Grandees; as soon as we came into it, 
they placed our Englishmen near the 
King; it being my fortune to sit next 
to hiim, having his Great General or 
War Captain on my other hand. The 
House is as Dark as a Dungeon and as 
hot as one of the Dutch Stoves in Hol- 
land. They had made a circular Fire 
of split canes in the middle of the 
House; It was one Man's emoloyment ' 
to ladd more split Reeds to this at one 
end as it consumed at the other, there 
being a small Vacancy left to supply 
it with Fuel. They brought in great 
store of Loblollv, and other Medlevs, 
made of Indian Grain, stewed Peaches, 
Bear Venison, etc., every one bringing 
some offering to enlarge the banquet, 
according to his Degree and Quality. 
When all the Viands were brought in 
the first Figure began with kicking out 
the Dogs, which are seemingly Wolves, 
made tame with starving and beating, 
they being the worst Dog-iMasters in 
the World, so that is an infallible cure 



for sore eyes, ever to see an Indian Dog 
fat. They are of quite a contrary con- 
dition to Horses; some of these Kings 
have gotten by chance, a jade stolen 
by some neighboring Indian, and trans- 
ported further into country and sold or 
bought sometimes of a Christian that 
trades amongst them. These creatures 
they continually cram and feed with 
maiz, and what the Horse will eat, till 
he is las fat as a Hog, never makins 
any further use of him than to fetch a 
Dear Home that is killed somewhere 
near the Indian's plantation. 

After the dogs had fled the room, the 
Company was summoned by beat of 
Drum; the Musick being made of 
dress'd deer's Skin, tied 'hot upon an 
earthern Porridge Pot. Presently came 
in five men dressed up in Feathers, 
their Paces being covered with Vizards 
made of Gourds, round their lAncles and 
Knees were hung bells of several sorts, 
having Wooden Falchions in their 
Hands (such as Stage Fencers common- 
ly Use) ; in this dress they danced about 
an hour, shewing many strange ges- 
tures, and brandishing their Wooden 
Weapons, as if they were going to fight 
each other; often walking very nimbly 
around the room without making the 
least noise with their bells (a thing I 
much admired at) again turning their 
bodies, arms and legs into such fright- 
ful postures, that you would have 
guessed they were quite raving mad: 
"At last they cut two or three hish 
capers and left the room. In their 
stead came in a parcel of women and 
girls, to the number of Thirty odd, 
every one taking place according to her 
degree of stature, the tallest leading 
the dance, and the least of all being 
placed last; with these they made a 
circular Dance, like a ring, represent- 
ing the Shape of the fire they danced 
about; Many of these had great Horse 
Belts about their legs, and small Hawks 
Bells about their necks. They had Mu- 



20 



lawson's history 



sicians who were two Old Men, one of 
whom beat a Drum, while the other 
rattled with a Gourd, that had corn in 
it to make a noise withal; to these in- 
struments they both sung a mournful 
ditty; the burthen of their song was In 
Remembrance of their form.er Great- 
ness, and the Numbers of their Nation, 
■ the famous exploits of their renowned 
ancestors and all actions of moment 
that had (in former days) been oer- 
formed by their forefathers. At these 
Festivals it is, that they give a tradi- 
tional relation of what hath oassed 
amongst them to the younger Fry: 
these verbal deliveries being always 
published in their most Publick assem- 
blies serve instead of our traditional 
notes, by the use of letters. Some In- 
dians that I have met withal have 
given me a curious description of the 
great Deluge, the Immortality of the 
Soul, with a Pithy account of the Re- 
ward of the good and wicked deeds m 
the Life to come; indeed a worthy foun- 
dation to build Christianity upon, were 
a true Method found out. and practis'd 
for the performance thereof. 

Their way of Dancing is nothing but 
a sort of stamping motion much like 
the treading upon Founders Bellows. 
Their Femiale Gang held their dance 
for above six Hours, being all of them 
like a White Lather of a running Horse 
that has just come in from his race. 
My Landlady was the ring leader of the 
Amazons, who, when in her own House, 
behaved herself very discreetly and 
warily, in her domestic affairs, yet cus- 
tom had so infatuated her, as to almost 
break her heart with dancing amongst 
such a confused Rabble. During this 
Dancing the spectators do not neglect 
their Business, in working the loblolly 
Pots, and other meat that was brought 
thither; more or less of them being con- 
tinually eating, whilst the others were 
dancina:. 
Next we shall treat of the land here 



abouts, which is a Marl as red as blood, 
and will lather like soap. The town 
stands on this Land, which hoJds con- 
siderably farther in the country, and is 
in my Opinion, so durable that no 
labour of Man. in one or two A^es, 
could make it poor. Here were corn 
stalks in their Fields as thick as the 
sm.all of a Man's Leg, and they are or- 
dinarily to be seen. 

We lay with these Indians one night, 
there being one of the largest Iron 
Pots I had ever seen in America, which 
I much wondered at, because I thought 
there might be no navigable stream 
near that Place. I ask'd them, where 
they got that Pot? They laugh'd at 
my Demand, and would give me no an- 
swer, which makes me guess it came 
from some Wreck and that we were 
Hi^arer the Ocean or some great River 
than I thought. 

The next day about noon we accident- 
ly met with la Southward Indian, 
amongst those that us'd to trade back- 
ward and forward, and spoke a little 
English, whom we hir'd to go with us 
to the Esaw Indians, a very large 
Nation, containing many thousand peo- 
ple. In the afternoon we set forward, 
taking our leaves of the Wisack In- 
dians, and leaving them, some Trifles. 
On our Way. we met with several 
Towns of Indians, each Town having its 
capitol, theatre or State House, such 
Houses, being found all along the road, 
until you come to Sapona, and then no 
more of those buildings, it being about 
170 Miles. We reach'd 10 Miles this Day, 
lying at another Town of the Wisacks 
The Man of the House offer'd us Skins 
to sell, but they were too heavy burdens 
for our long Voyage. 

Next morning we set out early 
breaking the Ice we met withal in the 
Stony Runs, which were manv. We 
passed by several Cottages, and about 
eight of the clock we came to a big 
Town, where we took up our Quarters 



OF NORTH CAROIvINA. 



21 



in one of their State Houses, ths Men 
being all out, hunting in the Woods and 
none but Women at Home. One of the 
Women picked the Pocket of one of our 
English, of the Beads, Cadis, and what 
else should have gratified the Indians 
for the Victuals we receiv'd of them. 
She also got his shoos away which he 
had made the night before, of a drest 
buckskin. With much ado, we muster- 
ed up another pair of shooes, of Mogi- 
sons, and set forward on our intended 
voyage. 

Relying wholly on Providence we 
marched on. The Land held rich and 
Good. In many Places there were great 
Quantities of Marble. The Water was 
still of a Whayish Colour. About 10 of 
the Clock, we waded through a River, 
(about tlie bigness of Derwent in York- 
shire) which I take to be one of the 
Branches of Winjaw River. We saw 
several Flocks of Pigeons, Field Fares 
and Thrushes, much like those of Eu- 
rope. The Indians of these parts use 
sweating very much. If any Pain, 
seize their Limbs or Body, immediately 
they take Reeds or smiall Wands, and 
bend them umbrella fashion, covering 
them with skins and match coats. Thej^ 
have a large Fire not far off wherein 
they heat stones or (where they are 
wanting) Bark; putting it into this 
Stove, which casts an extraordinary 
heiat. There is a pot of water in the 
Bagnio, in which is put a bunch of an 
herb bearing a silver Tassel, not much 
unlike the Aurea Virga. With this veg- 
etable thev rub the head, temple and 
other parts, which is reckon'd a pre- 
server of the sight, and strengthener of 
the Brain. We went this day about 12 
miles, one of our company being I'ame 
of his Knee. We passed over an ex- 
ceedingly rich Tract of Land, affording 
many Great Free Stones, t^nd Marble 
Rocks, and abounding in many pleas- 
ant and delightful rivulets. At Noon 
we stay'd and refreshed ourselves at a 



Cabin where we met with one of their 
War Captains, a man of great Esteem 
among them. Athisdetparture from the 
House, the Man of the House scratched 
this War Captain on the Shoulder, 
which is looked upon as a very p-reat 
compliment among them. The Captain 
went two or three miles on our Way 
with us, to direct us in the Path. One 
of our Company gave him a belt, which 
he took very kindly, bidding us call at 
his House (which was in our road) and 
stay until the Lame traveller was well, 
and speaking to the Indian to order his 
servant to make us welcome. Thus we 
parted, he being on his journey to the 
Congerees, and Savannas, a famous 
warlike friendly Nation of Indians, liv- 
ing to the South end of the Ashly River. 
He had a man-slave with him who was 
loaded with Europoean Goods, his wife 
and Daughter being in the Company. 
He told us at his departure that James 
had sent Knots to all the Indians there- 
abouts, for every town to send in 10 
skins, meaning Capt. Moore, then Gov- 
ernor of South Carolina. The Towns 
being very thick hereabouts, we took 
up our Quarters at one of the Chief 
Men's Houses, which was one of the 
Theaters I spoke of before. There ran, 
hard by this Town, a pleasant River not 
very large, but as the Indians told us, 
well stor'd with Fish. We being now 
among the powerful nation of Esaws, 
our Landlord entertained us very cour- 
teously, shewing us that night a pair 
of leather gloves which he had made, 
and comparing them with ours, they 
proved to be very ingeniously done, con- 
sidering it was the first Tryal. 

In the morning he desired to see the 
lame Man's affected part, to the end 
he might do something he believed 
would give his ea«e. After he had view- 
ed it accordingly, he pulled out an in- 
strument somewhat like a comb, which 
was made of split reed with 15 teeth of 
rattle snakes, set at much the same 



22 



lawson's history 



distance, as in a large Horn Comb. 
With this he scratched the Place where 
the Lameness chiefly lay, till the blood, 
came, bathing it both before and after 
incision, with Warm water, spurted out 
of his mouth. This done he ran into 
his Plantation, and got some Sassafras 
Root (which grows here in great Plen- 
ty) dry'd it at the embers, scraped off 
the outward rind, and having heated it 
between two stones applied it to the 
part afflicted, binding it up well. Thus 
in a day or two the patient became 
sound. This day we pass'd through a 
great many towns and settlements, that 
belonged to the Sugeree Indians, no 
barren land being found amongst them, 
but great plenty of free-stone and good 
timber. About three in the afternoon we 
reached the Kadapau King's House, 
where we met with one John Stewart, 
a Scot, then an Inhabitant of James 
R'ver in Virginia, who had traded there 
for many years. Being alone, and hear- 
ing that the Sinnagers (Indians from 
Canada) were abroad in that country, 
he durst not venture homewards until 
he saw us, having heard that we were 
coming above 20 days before. It is very 
odd that news should fly so swiftly 
among these people. Mr. Stewart had 
left Virginia ever since the October be- 
fore, and had lost a day of the week, 
of which we informed him. He had 
brought seven horses along with him, 
loaded with English goods for the In- 
dians, and having sold most of his Car- 
go, told us if we would stay two nights, 
he would go along with us. Comoanv 
being very acceptable, we accepted the 
proposal. 

The next day we were preparing for 
our voyage and ibaked some bread to 
take with us. Our Landlord was King 
of the Kadapau Indians, and always 
kept two or three trading girls in his 
cabin. Offering- one of these to one 
of our Company, who refused his Kind- 
ness, his Majesty flew into a violent 



Passion to be thus slighted, telling the 
Englishmen they were good for nothing. 
Our old Gamster particularly hung his 
ears at the proposal, having too lately 
been a looser by that sort of Merchan- 
dize. It was observable that we did 
not see one partridge from the Water- 
rees to this place, though my SDan^el 
bitch which I had with me on this voy- 
age had put up a great manv before. 

On Saturday morning we all set out 
for Sapona, killing in this creek several 
Ducks of a strange kind, having a red 
circle about their Eyes, like some 
Pigeons that I have seen. A top-knot 
reaching from their Heads almost to 
rhe middle of their Backs, and abun- 
dance of Feathers of prettv shades and 
colors. They prov'd excellent meat. 
Likewise here is a good store of Wood 
Cocks, not so big as those in England, 
the feathers of the Breast, being of a 
Carnation Colour, exceeding ours for 
delicacy of Food. The Marble here is 
of different Colours, some or other of 
the rocks presenting most mixtures, but 
chiefly the white having black and blue 
veins in it, and some that are red. This 
day we met with seven Heaps of 
Stones, being the Monuments or seven 
Indians, that were slain in that place 
by the Sinnagers, or Iroquois. Our 
Indian Guide added a stone to each 
Heap. We took up our Lodgings near a 
brook side, where the Virginia man's 
Horses got away, and went back to the 
Kadapaus. 

This day one of our Company with 
a Sapona Indian, who attended Stewart, 
went back for the Horses. In the mean 
time we went to shoot Pigeons, which 
were so numerous in these Parts, that 
you might see many Millions in a Flock. 
They sometimes split off the limbs of 
stout Oaks and other trees, upon 
which they roost o' Nig'hts. You 
may find several Indian Towns of 
not above seventeen Houses, that 
have more than 100 gallons of 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



23 



Pigeon Oil or Fat, they using it with 
Pulse or Bread as we do Butter, and 
making the ground as white as a st-eet 
with their Dung. The Indians take a 
light and go among them in the night, 
and bringing away with them some 
thousand, killing them with long poles 
as they roost in the trees. At this time 
of year, the flocks as they pass by, ob- 
struct the light of tbie day. 

On Monday we went about 25 Miles, 
traveling through a pleasant dry coun- 
try, and took up our lodgings by a hill 
side, that was 'One entire Rock, out of 
which gushed out pleasant fountains of 
well tasted Water. 

The next day, still passing along such 
land as we had done for many days, be- 
fore, which was Hills and Vallies, about 
10 a'Clock we reached the topi of one of 
these Mountains, which yielded us a 
very fine prospect of a very pleasant 
country, holding so on all sides further 
than we could discern. When we came 
to travel through it we found it very 
stiff and rich, being a sort of Marl. ThLg 
valley afforded as large Timber as any 
I have met withal, especially of chest- 
nuts and Oak Timbers which render U 
an excellent country for raising great 
herds of swine. Indeed, were it culti- 
vated, we might have good hopes of as 
pleasant and fertile a valley, as anv our 
English in America can afford. At 
night we lay by a Swift current where 
we saw plenty of Turkies, but perched 
upon such lofty oaks that our guns 
would not kill them, tho' we shot very 
often and our guns were very good. 
Some of our Company shot several 
Times at one Turkey before he would 
fly away, the pieces being loaded with 
large Goose Shot. 

Next Morning we got our Breakfast, 
roasted acorns being one of the dishes. 
The Indians beat them into Meal and 
thickened their Venison Broath with 
them; and of times make a palatable 
soop. They are used instead of bread. 



boiling them until the Oil swims on top 
of the Water, which they preserve for 
use, eating the Acorns with Flesh meat. 
We Traveled this day about 25 males, 
over pleasant Savanna Grounds, high 
and Dry, having very few trees upon 
it. and those standing at a great dis- 
tance. The Land was very good and 
free from Grubs or Underwood. A man 
near Sapona may more easily clear 10 
acres of Ground, than in some plaices he 
can one, there being much loo?e stone 
upon the Land, lying very convenient 
for making dry Walls, and other sort 
of durable fences. This country abounds 
likewise with Curious bold Creeks (nav- 
igable for small craft disgorging them- 
selves into the Main Rivers, that vent 
themselves into the Ocean. Tliese 
Creeks are well stored with sundry 
sorts of Fish and Fowl, and are very 
convenient for the transportation of 
what commodities this place may pro- 
duce. This night we had a great deal 
of Rain, with Thunder and Lightning. 
Next morning it proving delicate 
weather, three of us separated our- 
selves from the Horses, and the rest of 
the Company and went direct to Sa- 
pona Town. That day we passed thro' 
a delicious Country, (none that I ever 
saw exceeds it). We saw fine-bladed 
grass, 6 foot High, along the Banks of 
these pleasant rivulets. We passed by 
the Sepulchres of several slain Indians. 
Coming that day about 30 Miles we 
reached the pleasant Banks of Sapona 
River, whereon stands the Indian Town 
and Fort, nor could all England afford 
a pleasenter Stream, were it inhabited 
by Christians, and cultivated by ingen- 
ious Hands. These Indians live in a 
clear Field, about a Mile square, which 
they would have sold me because I 
talked sometimes about coming into 
those parts to live. This pleasant River 
may be sometimes larger than the 
Thames at Kingston, keeping a contin- 
ual pleasant Noise, with its reverberat- 



24 



lawson's history 



ing- on the bright Marble rocks. It is 
beautiful with a numerous train of 
Swans, and other sorts of Water Fowl, 
not common though extraordinarly 
pleasing to the Eye. The forward 
Spring welcomed us with her innumera- 
ble train of small Choristers, which in- 
habit those fair banks; the Hills re- 
doubling, and adding sweetness to their 
Melodious tunes, by their shrill echoes. 
One side of the River is hemmed in with 
Mountainy Ground, the other side prov- 
ing as rich a soil to the eve of a know- 
ing person with us, as any this Western 
World can afford. We took up our 
Quarters at the King's Cabin, who was 
a good Friend to the English, and had 
lost one of his Eyes in their Vindica- 
tion. Being upon his march towards the 
Appalatche Mountains, among-st a tribe 
of Indians in their Way, there happen- 
ing a difference while they were meas- 
uring of gun Powder; and the Powder 
iby accident taking Fire blew out one of 
this King's Eyes, and did a great deal 
more mischief upon the spot; Yet this 
Sapona King stood firmly to the Eng- 
lishman's Interest, with whom he was 
in Company, still siding with him 
against the Indians. They were intend- 
ed for the South Sea, but were too 
much fatigued by the vast ridge of 
Mountains, tho' they hit the right pas- 
sage; it being no less than 5 days jour- 
ney through a ledge of Rocky Hills and 
sandy deserts. And which is yet worse 
there is no Water, nor scarce a bird to 
be seen, during your Passage over these 
barren Crags and Valleys. The Sapona 
River proves ta be the west Branch of 
Cape Fair, or Clarendon River, whose 
inlet with other advantages, makes it 
appear as noble a River to plant a Col- 
ony in, as any I have met withal. 

The Saponas had (about 10 days be- 
fore we came thither) taken five prison- 
ers of the Sinnagers, or Jennitos, a sort 
of People that range several thousand 
of Miles, making all Prey thev lav 



their hands on. These are feared by all 
the Savage Nations I was among, the 
Westward Indians dreading their ap- 
proach. They are all sorted in, and 
keep continual Spies and Out Guards 
for their better Security. Those Cap- 
tives they did intend to burn, few Pris- 
oners of War escaping their punish- 
ment. The Fire of Pitch-Pine being got 
ready and a Feast appointed, which is 
solemnly kept at the time of their act- 
ing this Tragedv. the sufferer has his 
body stuck thick with lightwood splin- 
ters, which are lighted by so many can- 
dles, the tortured person dancing round 
a great Fire, till his strength fails, and 
disables him ifrom making them any 
further pastime. Most conxmonly these 
wretches behave themselves (In the 
Midst of their Tortures) with a great 
Deal of Bravery and Resolution, es- 
teeming it satisfaction enough, to be 
assured that the same Fate will befall 
some of their Tormentors, whenever 
they fall into the Hands of their Na- 
tion. More of this you will have in the 
other sheets. 

The Toteros, a neighboring Nation, 
came down from the Westward Moun- 
tains, to the Saponas, desiring them to 
give them those Prisoners into their 
Hands, to the intent they might send 
them back to their own Nation, beins 
bound in gratitude to be servicable to 
the Sinnagers, since not long ago those 
Northern Indians had taken some of 
the Toteros Prisoners, and done them 
no harm, but treated them Civilly 
whilst among them, sending them with 
safety back to their Own people, and 
affirming that it would be the best 
Method to preserve Peace on all sides. 
At that Time, these Toteros, Saponas 
and the Keyauwees, 3 small Nations, 
were going to live together, by which 
they thought they would strengthen 
themselves and become formidable to 
their Enemies. The reasons offered by 
the Toteros being heard the Sapona 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



25 



King with the consent of his Council- 
lors, delivered the Sinnagers up to the 
Toteros, to conduct tliem Home. 

Friday Morning the old King having 
shewed us two of his Horses that were 
as Fat as if thev had belonged to the 
Dutch Troopers, left us and went to 
look after his Bever-Traps, there being 
abundance of those amphibious Ani- 
mals in this River, and the Creeks Ad- 
joining. Taken with the Pleasantness 
of the Place, we w^alked along the 
River-side, where we found a very de- 
lightful Island, made by the River, and 
a Branch, there being several such 
plots of Ground environ'd with this Sil- 
ver Stream, which are fit pastures for 
Sheep, and free from any offensive 
Vermin. Nor can anything be desired 
by a contented mind, as to a Pleasant 
situation, but what mav be found here; 
every step presenting some new object 
which still adds Invitation to the Trav- 
eller in these Parts. Our Indian King 
and his Wife entertained us very re- 
spectfully. 

On Saturday the Indians brought us 
some Swans and Geese, which we Had 
our share of. One of their Doctors took 
me to this Cabin of his and showed me 
a great lot of Medicinal Drugs, the 
produce of those Parts; Relating their 
Qualities as to the Etnunctories they 
work'd by, and what great Maladies he 
had cured by them. This evening icame 
to us the Horses, with the remainder of 
our Company, their Indian Guide (who 
was a Youth of this Nation) having 
k:l!ed in their Way tei very Fat Dae. 
part of which they brought to us. 

This Day the King sent out all his 
Able Hunters to kill game for a great 
Feast, that was to be kept at their De- 
parture from the Town, which they of- 
fered to sell me for a small matter. 
That piece of ground with a little 
trouble could make an Englishman a 
most curious Settlement, containing 
above a Mile of rich land. This even- 



ing came down some Toteros. tall likelv 
men, having great quantities of Buffa- 
loes, Elks and Bears, with other sort of 
Deer amongst them, which strong Food 
makes large, robust bodies. Enquiring 
of them if they never got any of the 
Bezoar Stone, and giving them a de- 
scription how it was found, the Indians 
told me they had a great Pilenty of it; 
and ask'd me what use I could make of 
it, I answered them, that the White men 
used it as Physick. and that I would 
buy some of them, if they would get it 
against I came that way again. There- 
upon one of them pulled out a leath2r 
pouch wherein was some of it in Pow- 
der; he was a notable hunter, and af- 
firmed to me that that powder blown 
into the Eyes strengthened the Sight 
and Brain exceedingly, that being the 
most common use they made of it. I 
bought for 2 or 3 flints a large Peach 
Loaf, made up with a pleasant sort of 
seed, and this did us a singular kind- 
ness in our journev. Near the Town 
within their cleared land are several 
Bagnios, or Sweating Houses, made of 
stone in shape like a large oven; these 
they make much use of, especially for 
any pain in the joints, got by cold or 
travelling. At night as we lay in our 
beds there arose the most violent N. W. 
Wind I ever knew. The first Puff blew 
down all the Palisadoes that fortified 
the town, and I thought it would hive 
blown us all into the River, together 
with the Houses. Our one-eyed King, 
who pretends much to the Art of Con- 
juration, ran out in the most violent 
Hurrv, and in the middle of the Town 
fell to his Necromantick Practise; tho' 
I thought he would have been blown 
away or killed, before the Devil and he 
could have exchanged half a dozen 
W'Ords; but in two Minutes the Wind 
had ceased and it became as Great a 
Calm, as I ever knew in my Life. As I 
much admired at that sudden altera- 
tion, the old man told me the Devil was 



26 



lawson's history 



.very angrv and had done thus, because 
they had not put the Sinna^ers to 
Death. 

On Monday Morning our whole Com- 
pany, with the Horses, set out from the 
Sapona Indian town, after having seen 
some of the Locust, which is erotten 
thereabouts, the same sort tliat bears 
Honey. Getting over several Creeks 
very ^convenient for Water Mills, about 
8 Miles from the Town, we passed over 
a very pretty River, called Rock River, 
a fit name, having a ridge of high 
Mountains running- from its Banks to 
the Eastward, and disgorging itself in 
the Sapona River; so that there is a 
most pleasant and convenient Neck of 
Land betwixt both Riveis ly ng upon a 
Point, where many thousand acres may 
be fenced in, without much cost or la- 
bour. You can scarce go a Mile with- 
out meeting with one of these small 
Currents, here being no Swampis to be 
found, but pleasant dry roads au over 
the Country. The way that we went 
this day w^as full of Stones, as any 
which Craven, in the West of Yorkshire, 
could afford, and having nothing but 
moggisons on mv feet, I was so lamed 
by this way, that I thought I must 
have taken up some stay in those narts. 
We went this Day not above 15 or 20 
Miles. 'After we had supped and all lav 
down to sleep, there came a Wolf close 
to the Fireside, where we lay. My 
Spaniel soon discovered him, at which 
one of our Company fired a gun at the 
Beast; but I believe there was a mis- 
take in the loading of it, for it d'd him 
no harm. The Wolf stayed until he had 
almost loaded again, but the Bitch 
making a great noise at last he left us 
and went aside. We had no sooner lav 
down when he approached us again, vet 
was more shy, so that we could not 
get a shot at him. 

Next day we had 15 Miles further to 
the Keyauwees. The land is more moun- 
tainjDus but extremely pleasent, and an 



excellent place for the breeding of 
Sheep, Goats and Horses; or Mules, if 
the English were once brought to the 
experience of the usefullness of those 
Creatures. The Valleys here are very 
rich. At noon, we piassed over such an- 
other Stony River, as that eight Miles 
from Sapona. This is called Highwaree, 
and affords as good Blue stone for Mill 
stones, as that from Cologne, good 
Rags, some Hones, and large Pebbles 
in great abundance, besides free stone 
of several sorts, all very useful. I knew 
one of these Hones made use of by an 
Acquaintance of mine, and it proved 
rather better than any other from old 
Spain, or elsewhere. The veins of mar- 
ble are very large and curious on this 
River, and the Banks thereof. 

Five -Miles from this River to the N. 
W. stands the Keyauwee's Town. They 
are fortified in with Wooden Punch- 
eons, like Sapona, being a People much 
of the same Number. Nature hath so 
fortify'd this Town with Mountains, 
that were it a Great Seat of War. it 
might easily be made impregnable, hav- 
ing large corn fields joining to their 
Cabins, and a Savanna near the Town, 
at the foot of these Mountains, that is 
capable of keeping some hundreds of 
heads of Cattle. And all this environ'd 
round with very High Mountains, so 
that no hard Wind ever troubles these 
inhabitants. These high clifts have no 
grass growing on them, and very few 
Trees, which are very short and stand 
at a great distance from each other. 
The earth is a red Colour, and seems to 
me to be wholly designed by Nature for 
the production of Minerals, being of too 
hot a Quality to suffer any verdure ud- 
on its surface. These Indians make 
use 'of red ore to paint their Faces with- 
al, which they get in the Neig-hborinsr 
Mountains. As for the refinement of 
Metals the Indians are wholly i£:norant 
of this, being content with the Realgar. 
But if it be mv chance once more to- 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



27 



visit these Hilly parts, I shall make a 
longer stay amongst them; Fox were a 
good vein of Lead found out, and 
worked by an ingenious Hand, it might 
be of no small adviantage to the under- 
taker, there being great convenience for 
smelting, either by Bellows or Rever- 
beration: and the working of these 
mines might discover some that are 
much richer. 

At the top of one of these Mountains 
is a Cave that 100 Men sit very 
conveniently to dine in; whether nat- 
ural or artificial I could not learn. 
There is a fine Bole between this place 
and the Saps. These Valleys thus 
hemmed in with Mountains would 
doubtless prove a good Place for uropa- 
gating some sort of fruits, that our 
easterly Winds commonly blast. The 
vine could not miss of thriving well 
here; 'but we of the Northern CUmate 
are neither Artists nor Curious, in 
propagating that pleasant and orofit- 
able vegetable. Near the Town is such 
another Current as Heighwaree. We 
being six in Company divided ourselves 
into two parties; and it was my lot to 
be at thie House of Kayauwees Jack, 
who is King of that People. He is a 
Congeree Indian and ran awav when he 
was a boy. He got this Government by 
marriage with the Queen, the Female 
issue carrying the Heritage for fear of 
Imposters; the Savages well knowing 
how much Frailty possesses the Indian 
Women betwixt the Garters and the 
Girdle. 

Next day having some occasion to 
write, the Indian King, who saw me, 
believed that he could write as well as 
I. Whereupon I wrote a word and gave 
it to him to copy, which he did with 
more exactness than any European 
oould have done, that was illiterate. It 
was so well that he who could have 
read mine might have done the same 
'by his. Afterwards he took great de- 
light in making fish-hooks of his own 



invention which would have been a 
good Piece for an Antiquary to have 
puzzled his brains withal, in tracing 
out the Characters of all the oriental 
Tongues. He sent for several Indians 
to his Cabin to look at his handywork 
and both he and they thought I could 
read his writing as well as I could my 
own. I had a Manual in my oocket 
that had King David's Picture in it, 
and in one of his Private retirements. 
The Indian asked me who that Indian 
represented? I told him that it was the 
Picture of a good King that lived ac- 
cording to the rules of Morality, doins 
all as he would be done by, ordering all 
his life to the service of the Creator of 
all things; and being now above us in 
Heaven with God Almighty, who had 
rewarded him with all the delightful 
pleasures imaginable in the other 
World, for his Obedience to him in this. 
I concluded with telling him that we re- 
ceived nothing here below, as Food, 
Raiment, etc., but what came from the 
Omnipotent Being. They listened to my 
Discourse with a profound Silence, as- 
suring me that they believed what 1 
said to be true. No man living will 
ever be able to make these Heathens 
sensible to the Hapipiness of a future 
stiate, except he now and then mentions 
some lively carnal Representation, 
which may quicken their apprehensions, 
and make them thirst after such a 
gainful exchange; for were the best 
lecture that ever was preached by man 
given to an ignorant sort of people, in 
a more learned style then their mean 
capacities are able to understand, the 
Intent would prove ineffectual, and the 
Hearers would be left in a greater 
Labyrinth than their Teacher found 
them in. But dispense the Precepts of 
our Faith according to the Pupil's ca- 
pacity, and there is nothins' in our Re- 
ligion but what an indifferent reason is 
in some measure able to comprehend 
tho' a New England Minister blames 



28 



lawson's history 



the French Jesuits for this wav of oro- 
ceeding, as being quite ^contrary to this 
true Christian Practise, and affirms it 
to be no ready or true Method, to es- 
tablish a lively representation of our 
Christian Belief amongst these Infidels. 
All the Indians hereabouts carefully 
preserve the bones of the Flesh thev 
eat, and burn them, as being of opinion 
that if they Omitted thhat Custom, the 
Oame would leave their country, and 
they would not be able to Mamtain 
themselves bj^ Hunting. Most of these 
Indians wear Mustaches, or Whiskers. 
which is rare; by reason the Indians 
are a people that commonly pull the 
Hair of their Faces, and other parts 
up by the Roots and suffer None to 
grow. Here is plenty of Chestnuts, 
which are rarely found in Carolina, and 
never near the Sea or Salt Water, tho' 
they are frequently in such places in 
"Virginia. 

At the other House where our Fellow- 
Travellers lay, they had provided a 
Dish in great Fashion among the In- 
dians, which was two young Fawns, 
taken out of the Doe's Bellies, and boil- 
ed in the same slimy bags Nature had 
provided them in, and one of the Coun- 
try Hares stewed with the Guts in her 
ibelly, vand her skin with the Hair on. 
This new-found cookery wrought Ab- 
stinence in our Fellow-Travellers, 
which I somewhat wondered at, because 
one of them made nothing of eatins 
allegators, as heartily as if it had been 
Pork and Turnips. These Indians dress- 
ed most things after the Wood-Cock 
fashion, never taking the guts out. At 
the House we layiat there was good en- 
tertainment of Venison, Turkies and 
Bears; and which is customary among 
the Indians, the Queen had a Daughter 
by a Former Husband, who was the 
beautifulest Indian I ever saw, and had 
an Air of Majesty with her, quite con- 
trary to the general Carriage of the In- 
dians. She was very kind to the Eng- 



lish during our abode, as well as her 
Father and Mother. 

This Morning most of our Comp-iny 
having some inclination to go straight 
away for Virginia, when they left this 
Place; I and one more took our leaves 
of them, resolving, (with God's Leave) 
to see North Carolina, one of the In- 
dians setting us in our Way. The rest 
being indifferent which way they went, 
desired us by all means to leave a let- 
ter for them at the Achonechy-Town. 
The Indian that put us in our Path had 
been a Prisoner amongst the Sinnagers. 
but had outrun them, altho' they had 
cut his toes, and half his feet away, 
which is a practice common amongsc 
them. They first raise the Skin, cut 
away half the feet, and so wrapi the 
Skin over the stumps and so make a 
perfect cure of the Wound. This com- 
monly disables them from making their 
escape, they being not so good travellers 
as before, and the impression of their 
half-feet making it easy to trace them. 
However, this Fellow was got clear of 
them, but had little heart to go far 
from' home, and carried always a ^case 
of Pistols in his Girdle, besides a Cut- 
lass and Fuzee. Leaving the rest of 
our Company at the Indian Town, we 
travel'd that Day about 20 Miles in very 
Cold, Frosty Weather, and passed over 
two pretty Rivers, something bigger 
than Heighwaree, but not quite so 
Stony. We took these two rivers to 
make one of the Northward branches of 
Cape Fair River, but afterwards found 
our Mistake. 

The next Day we tnavelled over very 
good Land, but full of Free Stone, and 
Marble which pinched our Feet severe- 
ly. We took up our quarters at a sort of 
Savanna Ground, that had very few 
Trees in it. The land was good and had 
several Quarries of Stone, but not 
Loose as the othiers used to be. 

Next Morning we got our Breakfast 
of Parched Corn, having nothing but 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



29 



that to subsist on for 100 Miles. All the 
Pine Trees had "Vanished, for we had 
seen none for two days. We pas'd thro' 
a Delicate Rich Soil this Day; no g:reat 
Hills but pretty Risings and Levels, 
which made a beautiful country. We 
likewise passed over three Great Rivers 
this Day; the First about the bigness of 
Rocky River, the other not much dif- 
fering in Size. Then we made not the 
least Question, but we had passed over 
the North West Branch of the Cape 
Fair, travelling that day above "0 
Miles. We were much taken with the 
Fertility and Pleasantness of the Neck 
of Land between these two Bnanches, 
and no less pleased that we had passed 
the River, which used to frighten Pas- 
sengers from fording it. At last, deter- 
mining to rest on the other side of the 
Hill, which we saw before us; when we 
were on the top thereof there appeared 
to us such another clelic'ou'-, rapid 
stream, as that of the Sapona, hiavinsr 
large Stones, about the bigness of rn 
ordinary House, lying up and down the 
River. As the wind blew cold at the 
N. W. and we were very wearv and 
hungry, the Swiftness of the Current 
gave us some cause to fear; but at last 
we concluded to venture over that 
night. Accordingly we stripped, and 
with great difficulty (by God's assist- 
ance) got safe to the north side of the 
famous Hau River, by some called 
Reatkin; the Indians differing in the 
names of places, according to their sev- 
eral Nations. It is called Hau River 
from the Sissipahau Indians, who dwell 
upon this Stream, which is one of the 
Main Branches of Cape Fair River, 
thjere being Rich Land enough to con- 
tain some thousands of Families; for 
which reason I hope in a short time it 
will be Planted. This River is much 
such another as Sapoma; both seeming 
to run a vast way up the Oountrv. 
Here is good Timber, especially of a 
Scaly-Bark'd Oak; And as there is 



Stone enough in both Rivers, and the 
Land is extraordinary Rich, No Man 
that will be content within the Founds 
of Reason, can have any grounds to 
dislike it. And they that are otherwise, 
are the best Neighbours, when farthest 
off. 

As soon as it was Day we set out for 
the Achonechy Town, it being by esti- 
mation 20 Miles off, which, I believe, is 
pretty exact. We were got about half 
Way, (meeting great Gangs of Turkies) 
when we saw at a distance 30 loaded 
Horses, coming on the road, with four 
or five Men, on other Jades, driving 
them. We charg'd our Piece, and went 
up to them, Enquiring whence they 
came from? They told us, from Vir- 
ginia. The leading Man's name was 
Massey, who was born about Leeds in 
Yorkshire. He asked from whence wa 
aame. We told him. Then he asked 
again, Whether we wanted anything 
that he had? telling us that we should 
be welcome to it. We accepted of two 
Wheaten Biscuits and a little ammuni- 
tion; He advised us by all means to 
strike down the country for Ronoack, 
and not think of Virginia, because the 
Sinnagers, of whom they were afraid, 
tho' so well armed and numerous. They 
persuaded us also to call on one Enoe 
Will, as we went to Adshushieer, for 
that he would conduct us safe amonc 
the English, giving him the character 
of a very faithful Indian, which we af- 
terwards found true by expierience. The 
Virginia Men asked our Opinion of the 
Country we were then m? We told 
them it was a very pleasant one. They 
were all of the same opinion, and af- 
firmed That they had never seen 20 
Miles of such extraordinary rich Land, 
lying all together, like that betwixt 
Hau River and the Achonechy Town. 
Having taken our leaves of each other 
we set forward; and the country thro' 
which we passed was so delightful that 
it gave us a great deal of satisfaction. 



30 



i^awson's history 



About three a Clock we reachea the 
town, and the Indians presently 
brought us a good fat Bear, and Veni- 
son, which was very acceptable at that 
time. Their Cabins were hung with a 
Good Sort of Tapestry, as Fat Bear, 
and Barbakued or dried Venisen; no In- 
dians having greater plenty of provis- 
ions than these. The Savages, do in- 
deed, still posess the Flower of Caro- 
lina; the English enjoying only the 
Fag-end of that country. We had not 
been in the Town two Hours when 
Enoe-Will came into the King's Cabin; 
which was our Quarters. We ask'd him 
if he would conduct us to the Etnglish, 
and what he would hiave for his oaing; 
he answered that he would go alon^ 
with us, and for what he was to have 
he left that to our discretion. 
('^ The next Morning we set out with 
Enoe-Will towards Adshusheer, leaving 
the Virginia Path and striking more to 
the Eastward for Ronoack. Several In- 
dians were in our Company belonging 
to Will's Nation, who are the Shocco- 
ries, mixed with the Eno Indians, and 
those of the Nation of Adshusheer. 
Enoe-Will is their chief Man, and rules 
as far as the Banks of Reatkin. It was 
a bad stony Way, to Adshusheer. We 
went over a small River by Achonechy, 
and in this 14 Miles, thro' several other 
streams, which empty themselves into 
the Branches of the Cape Fair. The 
Stony Way made me quite Lame, so 
that I was an Hour or two behind the 
rest, but Honest Will would not leave 
me, but bid me welcome when we came 
to his House, feasting us with Hot 
Bread and Bear's Oil; which is whole- 
some Food for Travellers. There runs 
a Pretty Rivulet by this Town. Near 
the Plantation, I saw a Prodig-ious 
overgrown Pinetree, having not seen 
any of that kind of timber for over 125 
Miles. They brought us two Cocks, and 
pull'd their larger Feathers off, never 
cutting the lesser, but singeing them off. 



I took one of these Fowls in my Hand 
to make it cleaner thian the Indian had, 
pulling out his guts and liver, which I 
laid in a Basin; notwithstanding which, 
he kept such a struggling for a consid- 
erable Time, that I had much ado to 
hold him in my Hands. The Indians 
laughed at me, and told me that Enoe- 
Will had taken a Cock of an Indian 
that was not at Home, and the Fowl 
was design'd for another Use. I con- 
jectured that he was designed for an 
offering to their God, who they say 
hurts them, (which is the Devil). In his 
struggles he bled afresh, and there is- 
sued out of his body more blood than 
commonly such Creatures afford. Not- 
withstanding all this, we cooked him 
and eat him, and if he was designed for 
him, cheated the Devil. The Indians 
kept many Cocks, but seldom above one 
hen, using very such often wicked 
Sacrifices as I mistrusted this 
Fowl was design'd for. Our guide 
and Landlord, Enoe-Will, was of 
the best and most agreeable 
Temper I ever met with in an In- 
dian, being always ready to serve the 
English, not out of Gain, but real Af- 
fection; which makes him apprehensive 
of being poisoned by some wicked In- 
dians, and was therefore very earnest 
with me, to promise him to revenge his 
death should it so happen. He brought 
some of his chief Men into his Cabin, 
and two of them having a Drum and a 
Rattle, sung by us as we laid in bed. 
and struck up their music Lo serenade 
and welcome us to their Town. And 
tho' at last we fell asleep, yet thev con- 
tinued their Consert until morning. 
These Indians are fortified in as the 
former, and are much addicted to a 
sport they call Chenco, which is carried 
on with a Staff and Bowl miade of stone, 
which they trundle upon a smooth 
place, like a Bowling Green, made for -^ 
that purpose as I mentioned before. 
Next Morning we set out with our 



OF NORTH CAROIvINA. 



31 



Guide and several other Indians, who 
intended to go to the English and buv 
rum. We designed for a Nation about 
40 Miles from Adshusheer, called the 
Lower Quarter; the First Night we lay 
in a Rich Perkoson, or Low Ground, 
that was hard by a Creek, and erood 
dry Land. 

The next day we went over several 
rich Tracts of Land, but mixed with 
Pine and other indifferent Soil. In our 
Way there stood a large stone about the 
size of a large Oven, and BLoUow. This 
the Indians took great notice of, put- 
ting some Tobacco into the concavity, 
and spitting after it. I asked them the 
reason of their so doing, but they made 
me no answer. In the evening we pass'd 
over a pleasant Rivulet, with a fine 
Gravelly bottxsm, having come over 
such another that morning. On the 
other side of this river we found the 
Indian town, which was a Parcel of 
nasty, smoakv holes, much like the 
Wateerees; their town having a great 
Swamp running directly through the 
Middle thiereof. The Land here begins 
to abate of its height, and has some 
few Swamps. Most of these Indians 
hiave but one eye; but what Mischance 
or quarrel has bereaved them of the 
other I could not learn. They were not 
so free to us as most of the other In- 
dians had been; Victuals being some- 
tv what scarce to them. However, we got 
enx)ught to satisfy our appetites. I saw 
amongst these men very long Arrows, 
headed with pieces of Glass, which they 
had broken from bottles. They had 
shaped them neatly like the head of a 
dart, but which way they did it I can't 
tell. We had not been at this Town 
above an Hour, when two of our com- 
pany who had brought a mare of John 
Stewart, came up to us, having receiv- 
ed a letter by one of Will's Indians, 
who was cautious and asked a erreat 
many questions to certifle him of the 
person, e'er he would deliver the letter. 



They had left the trader and one that 
came from South Carolinia with us to 
go to Virginia, these two being resolved 
to go to Carolina with us. 

This day fell much rain, so we stayed 
at the Indian Town. 

This morning we set out early, being 
four Englishmen besides several In- 
dians. We went 10 Miles, and were 
then stopped by the Freshness of the 
Enoe River, which had raised it so high 
that we could not pass over, till it was 
fallen. I enquired of my guide where 
this river disgorged itself; He said it 
was the Enoe River, and ran into a 
place call'd Enoe Bay near his country, 
which he left when he was a boyj bv 
which I perceived that he was one of 
the Corees by birth; this being a branch 
of Neus River. 

This day our fellow traveller's Mare 
ran away from him; wherefore Will 
went back as far as the lower Quarter, 
and brought her back. 

The next day early came two Tus- 
keraro Indians to the other side of the 
river, but could not get over. Thev 
talked much to us, but we understood 
them nx3t. In the afternoon Will oame 
with the Mare and had some discourse 
with them; they told him, the English 
to which he was going were very wick- 
ed people, and that they threatened the 
Indians for hunting near their Planta- 
tions. These two fellows were among 
the Schoccores andAchonechy Indians, 
to sell their Wooden Bowls and Ladles 
for Raw- Skins, which they miake great 
advantage of, hating that any of these 
Western Indians should have their 
commerce with the Engli-sh, which 
would prove a Hinderance to their 
Gains. Their Stories deterr'd an old In- 
dian and his son, from going any fur- 
ther, but Will told us 1X0 thing thev 
should say would frighten him, he be- 
lieving them to be a couple of Hog- 
Stealers; and that the English onlv 
sought restitution of their losses by 



32 



lawson's history 



them, and that this was the onlv 
ground for their report. Will had a 
slave, a Sissipiahau Indian by Nation, 
who killed us several Turkies and other 
game, on which we feasted. 

The River is near as large as Reatkin; 
the south side having curious tracts of 
good Land, the banks high, and stone 
Quarries. The Tuskeruros, being come 
to us we ventured over the river, which 
we found to be a strong current, and 
Water about Breast high. However 
we all got safe to the North Shore, 
which is but poor, white, sandy Land, 
land bears no timber, but small shrubby 
oaks. We went about 10 Miles and sat 
down at the falls of a large creek, 
where lay mighty Rocks, the Water 
making a strange Noise as if a ::reat 
many Water-Mills were going at once. 
I take this to be the falls of the Neus- 
Creek, called by the Indians the Wee 
quo Whom. We lay here all night. My 
guide Will desiring to see the book that 
I had about me, I lent it to him; and 
as soon as he saw the picture of 
King David, he asked me several Ques- 
tions concerning the book, tand picture, 
which I resolv'd him, and invited him 
to become a Christian. He made me a, 
very sharp reply, assuring me that he 
loved the English extraordinarily well, 
and did believe their ways to be very 
good for those that had always prac- 
tised them, and had been brought up 
therein, but that for himself, he was 
too much in years to think of a change, 
esteeming it not proper for old People 
to admit such an Alteration. However 
he told me that if I would take his son 
Jajck, who was then about 14 years of 
age, and teach him to talk in that Book, 
and make paper speak, which they call 
our Way of Writing, he would whollv 
resign him to my tuition; temng me he 
was of opinion, I was very well affected 
to the Indians. 

The next Morning we set out earlv. 
and I perceived these Indians were in 



some fear of Enemies; for they had nn 
old man with them who was very 
cunning and circumspect, wheresoever 
he saw any Marks of Footing or anv 
Fire that had been Made, going out 
of his Way very often to look for these 
miarks. We went this day above 30 
Miles, over a very Level country and 
Most Pine land, yet intermixed with 
some quantities of Marble; a good 
range for Ca ttle though very indifferent 
for Swine. We here now lost our rapid 
streams and were come to slow, dead 
Waters, of a brown color, proceedine: 
from the Swamps, much like the 
Sluices in Holland, where the Track 
Scoots go along. In the afternoon we 
met two Taskereros, who told us that 
there was a Company of Hunters not 
far off, a"nd if we walked stoutlv we 
might reach them that night. But Will 
and he that owned the Mare, being 
gone before, and the old Indian tired, 
we rested that night in the Woods, 
making a good light Fire, Wood being 
very plentiful in these parts. 

The next Morning about 10 o'clock 
we struck out of the Way, by advice of 
our old Indian. We had not gone 2 Miles 
e'er we met with 500 Tuskerercs in one 
Hunting Quarter. They had made 
themselves 'Streets of houses built with 
Pine Bark, not with round tops as 
they commonly use, but Ridge Fash- 
ion, after the manner of most other 
Indians. We got nothing amongst 
them but corn. Flesh being not olenti- 
ful by reason of the great number of 
their people. For tho' they are expert 
hunters, yet they are too populous for 
one Range, which makes Venison very 
scarce to what it is amongst other 
Nations, that are fewer, no savages 
living so well for Plenty as those liv- 
ing near the se(a. I saw amongst these 
a Hump-Backed Indian, which was the 
only Crooked one I ever saw withal. 
About two a Clock we reached one of 
their Towns, in which there was no- 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



33 



body left but an old Woman or two, the 
rest being gone to their Hunting Quar- 
ters. We could find no provision at 
that place. We had a Tuskerero that 
came in company with us from the 
lower Quarter, who took us to his 
Cabin and gave us what it afforded, 
which was corn-meal. 
^ This day we passed through several 
swamps, and going not above a dozen 
Miles came to a Cabin, the Master 
whereof used to trade amongst the 
English. He told us, if we would stiav 
two Nights, he would conduct us safe 
to them, himself designing at that time 
to go and get some Rumi.; so we re- 
solved to tarry for his company. Dur- 
ing our stay, there happened to be a 
young Woman troubled with Fits. The 
doctor who was sent for to assist her. 
laid her on her belly, and made a small 
incision with Rattle Snake Teeth, then 
laying his mouth to the place he sucked 
out near a quart of black conglutinated 
Blood, and Serum. Our Landlord gave 
us the Tail of a Beaver, which was a 
choice food. There happened also to 
be a burial of one of them, which cer- 
emony is much the same as that of the 
Santees, who make a great Feast at the 
Interment of their Corps. The small 
runs of water hereabout, afford great 
plenty of Craw-fish, full as large as 
those in England, and nothing inferior 
to their Goodness. 

Sunday Morning our Patron, with 
Enoe-Will, and his servant, set out 
with us for the English. In the after- 
noon we ferried over a River In a 
Canoe, called by the Indians Chattoo- 



kau, which is the N. W. Branch of 
Neus River. We lay in the Swamp, 
where some Indians invited us to go to 
their Quarters, which some of our 
Company accepted, but got nothing ex- 
traordinary except a dozen Miles March 
out of their Way. The country here is 
very thick of Indian Towns and Plan- 
tations. 

We were forced to march this way 
for want of provisions. About 10 o'clock 
we met an Indian that had got a Par- 
cel of Shad fish ready barbakued. We 
bought 24 of them for a dress'd doe 
skin, and so went on through manv 
swamps, finding this Day the long 
ragged Moss on the Ttees, which we 
had not seen for above 600 Miles. In 
the afternoon we came upon the banks 
of Pampticough, about 20 Miles above 
the English Plantations by Water, 
though not so far by Land. The 
Indian found a Canoe which he had 
hidden, and we all got over, and went 
about six Miles farther. We lay that 
night under two or three Pieces of 
Bark, at the foot of a large Oak. There 
fell abundance of Snow and Rain in the 
Night, with much thunder .and light- 
ning. 

Next day it cleared up, and it beina; 
about 12 miles to the Enslishi, about 
half-way we passed over a deep creek, 
and came safe to Mr. Richard Smith's, 
of Pampticough River, in North Claroli- 
na, where being well received by the in- 
habitants, and being well pleased with 
the goodness of the country, we all re- 
solved to continue. 

Finis. 



CHAPTER II. 



The Province of Carolina Is separat- 
ed from Virg-inia by a Due West Line, 
which begins at Currituck Inlet, in 36 
degrees, 30 minutes, of Northern Lat- 
itude, and extends indefinitely to the 
Westward, and thence to the South- 
ward, as far as 29 Degrees, which is a 
vast amount of Sea Coast. But hiaviner 
already treated as far as is necessary, 
concerning South Carolina, I shall con- 
fine myself in the ensuing Sheets, to 
give my reader a desicription of that 
part of the country only which lies be- 
tween Currituck and Cape Fair River, 
and is almost 34 degrees North. And 
this is commonly called North Caro- 
lina. 

This part of Carolina is faced with a 
chain of Sand Banks, which defends it 
from th>9 violence and Insults of the 
Atlantic Ocean, by which taiarrier a vast 
Sound is hemmed in, which fronts the 
Mouths of the Navigable Pleasant 
Rivers of this Fertile Cbuntry, and in- 
to which they disgorge themselves. 
Thro' the same are inlets of several 
depths of Water. Some of these Chan- 
nels admit only of Sloops, Brigiantines, 
small Barks and Ketches; and such 
are Currituck, Ronoak, and the Sound 
above Hatteras; whilst others can re- 
ceive Ships of Burden, as Odacock. 
Topsail Inlet, and Cape Fair, as ap- 
pears by my chart. 

The first discovery and settlement of 
this country was by the Procurement 
of Sir Walter Raleigh, in conjunction 
with some public spirited Gentlemen of 
thiat Age, under the Protection of 
Queen Elizabeth, for which reason it 
was then named Virginia, being begun 
on that part named Ronoak Island, 
where the ruins of a Fort are to be 
seen to this day, las well as some old 



English Coins which have been late'v 
found; and a Brass Gun, one Powder 
Horn, and one small quarter-deck gun, 
made of Iron Staves, and hooped with 
the same metial; which method of mak- 
ing guns might very probably be made 
use of in those days; for the Conven- 
ience of Infant Colonies. 

A farther conflrmation of this we 
have from the Hateras Indians, who 
either then lived on Ronoak Island, or 
much frequented it. These tell us that 
several of their ancestors were white 
People, and could talk in a Book, as 
we do; the truth of which is confirmed 
by grey Eyes being found frequently 
amongst these Indians, and no others. 
They value themselves extremely for 
their Affinity to the English, and are 
ready to do them (all friendly offices. It 
is probable that this settlement mis- 
carried for want of timely supplies 
from England, or thro' the treachery 
of the Natives, for we may reasonably 
suppose that the English were forced 
to co-habit with them for relief and 
conversation, and that in process of 
Time, they conformed themselves to 
th9 Manners of their Indian Relations. 
And thus we see how apt Human 
Nature is to degenerate. 

I cannot forbear inserting here a 
pleasant story that passes for an un- 
contested Tt-uth amongst the Inhabi- 
tants of this Place; which is that the 
Ship which brought the first Colonies, 
does often appear amongst them under 
sail, in a gallent Posture, which they 
call Sir Walter Raleigh's Ship; and 
the truth of this has been aflirmed to 
me, by men of the best Credit in the 
Country. 

A second settlement of this country 
was made about 50 yeiars ago, in that 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



35 



part we now 'call Albemarl-Countrv, 
and chiefly in Chuwon Precinct, by 
several substantial planters, from Vir- 
ginia and o tiler PLantations, who find- 
ing mild winters and a fertile soil, be- 
yond Expectation, producing every- 
thing that was planted to a orodisrious 
increase; their Cattle, Horses, Sheep 
and Swine, breeding very fat, and 
passing the winter without any Assist- 
ance from the Planter", so that every- 
thing seemed to come by nature; the 
Husbandman living almost void of 
care, and free from those fatigues 
which are absolutely requisite in Win- 
ter-Countries; these encouragements 
induced them to stand their ground, 
altho' but a handful of people, seated 
at great distances from each other, and 
amidst a vast number of Indians from 
different Nations, who were then in 
Carolina. Nevertheless I say, the fame 
of this new discovered Summer-Coun- 
try spread through the neighbcring 
Colonies, and in a few years drew a 
considerable number of families there- 
to, who all found Land enough to set- 
tle themselves in, (had they been many 
thousand more) and that which was 
very good and ccmmodiously seated, 
both for Profit and Pleasure. And in- 
deed, most of the Plantations in Caro- 
lina, iDaturally enjoy a very noble pros- 
pect of large and spacious Rivers, 
pleasant Savannas, and fine Meadows, 
with their green liveries, interwoven 
with beautiful flowers of most glorious 
colors, which the several seasons af- 
ford, hedged in with famous groves of 
the ever famous Tulip tree, the stately 
Laurel, and Bays equalizing the Oak 
in bigness and growth; Myrtle, "Wood- 
bines, Jessamines, Honeysuckles, and 
several other fragiiant "Vines and 
Evergreens, whose aspiring branches 
shadow and interweave themselves 
with the loftiest timbers, yielding a 
pleasant Prospect, Shade and Smell, 
propier habitations for the sweet sing- 



ing Birds, that melodiously entertain 
such as travel thro' the "Woods of Car- 
olina. 

The Planters possessing all these 
Blessings, and the Produce of great 
quantities of "WTieat and Indian Corn, 
in which this country is very fruitful, 
as likewise in Beef, Pork, Tallow, 
Hides, Deer Skins, and Purs; for these 
commodities the New Englandmen and 
Bermudians visited Carolina in their 
Barks and Sloops, and carry'd out 
whjat they made, bringing them ini ex- 
change. Rum, Sugar, Salt, Molasses, 
and some wearing apparel, tho' the 
last at very extravagant prices. 

As the Land is very fruitful, so are 
the Planters kind and hospitable to all 
that come and visit them; there being 
very few house-keepers, but what live 
nobly, and give away more provisions 
to Coasters and Guests who come bo 
them, than they expend among their 
own families. 

OF THE INLETS AND HAVENS OF 
THIS COUNTRY. 

The Bar of Currituck, being the 
Northmost of this country, Piresents it- 
self first to be treated of. It lies in 
36 degrees, 30 minutes, and the course 
over is S. "W. by "W. having not above 
7 to 8 ft. on the Bar, tho' a good har- 
bour when you are over, where you 
may ride safe and deep enough, but 
this part of the Sound is so full of 
Shoals, as not to suffer anything to 
trade thro' it, that draws above three 
foot "Water, which renders if very in- 
commodious. However this affects but 
some parts of the country, and may be 
easily remedied by carrying their Pro- 
duce in small Craft, down to vessels 
whiich ride near the Inlet. 

Rock Inlet has ten foot of "Water; 
the course over the Bar is almost W. 
which leads you thro' the best of 
channels. The Bar, as well as Curri- 
tuck, often shifts by the Violence of 
the N. E. Storms, both lying exposed to 



36 



lawson's history 



those winds. Notwithstanding which, 
a considerable trade might be carried 
on, provided there was a Pilot to bring 
them in; for it lies convenient for a 
large part of this Colony, whose pro- 
duct would very easily allow of that 
charge: Lat. 35 deg. 50 min. 

The Inlet of the Hatteras lies to the 
Westward of the Cape, round which is 
an excellent Harbour. When the wind 
blows hiard at N. or N. E. if you keep 
a small League from the Cape point, 
you will have 3, 4, and 5 Fathom, the 
outermost Shoals lying about 7 or 8 
Leagues from Shoar. As you come into 
the Inlet, keep close to the south break- 
ers, till you are over the Bar, where 
you will have two Fathom at low 
water. You may come to an anchor in 
two fathom and a half when you are 
over, then steer over close (aboard the 
North Shore, where is four Fathom, 
close to a Point of Marsh; then steer 
up the sound a long League, till vou 
bring the North Cape of the Inlet to 
bear S. S. E. half E, then steer W. N. 
W. the East point of Bluff Land at 
Hatterais as bearing E. N. E., the 
Southmost large Hammock towards 
Ocacock, bearing S. S. W. half S., then 
you are in the Sound, over the bar of 
sand, whereon is but 6 foot water; then 
your course to Pamticough is almost 
West. It flows on these three bars S. 
E. by E. 1-4 E. about eight of the 
clock, unless there is a hard gale of 
wind at N. E. which will make it flow 
two hours longer; but as soon as the 
Wind is down, the Tides will have their 
Natural Course: A hiard gale at N. or 
N. W. will make the water ebb some- 
times 24 hours, but still the Tide will 
ebb and flow, tho' not seen by the 
turning thereof, but may be seen by 
the Rising of the Water, and falling: 
of the same, Lat. 35 deg. 20 min. 

Ocacock is the best Inlet and Har- 
bour yet in this country, and has 13 
foot at low water upon the bar. There 



are two channels; one is but narrow 
and lies close aboard the South Oaoe; 
the other in the middle, viz-between 
the Middle Ground and the South 
Shoar, and is above half a Mile wide. 
The Bar itself is but half a Cable's 
length over, \and then you are in 7 or 8 
Fathom Water; a good Harbour. The 
course into the Sound is N. W. At 
High-water, and Neap-tides here is 18 
foot Water. It lies S. W. from Hat- 
teras Inlet. Lat. 35 deg. 8 min. 

Topsail Inlet is above two leagues to 
the Westward of Capt Look-out. You 
have a fair channel over the Bar, and 
two Fathom thereon and a good har- 
bour in 5 or 6 Fathom to come to an 
anchor. Your course over the bar is 
almost N. W. Lat. 24 deg. 44 min. 

As for the Inlet and River of Cane 
Fair, I cannot give you a better infor- 
mation thereof, than has already been 
deliver'd by the gentlemen who were 
sent on purpose, from Barbadoes, to 
make a discovery of that River, in the 
year 1663, which is thus: 

From Tuesday the 29th of September 
to Friday the 2nd of October we ranged 
along the shoar from Lat. 32 deg. 20 
min. to lat. 33 deg. 33 min. but could 
discern no entrance for our Ship, af- 
ter we had passed to the northward of 
32 deg. 40 min. On Saturday, October 
3rd, a violent storm overtook us, the 
Wind between North and East; which 
easterly winds and Foul Weather con- 
tinu'd until Monday the 12th; by reas- 
on of which storms and Foul Weather, 
we were forced to get off to Sea, to 
secure ourselves and Ship, and were 
driven by the rapidity of the strong 
current to Cape Hatteras in Lat. 35 
deg. 30 min. On Monday the 12th, 
aforesaid, we came to an anchor in 
seven Fathom at Cape Fair Road, and 
took the Meridian Altitude of the Sun, 
and were in Lat. 33 deg. 43 Min.; the 
wind continuing still Easterly, and 
Foul Weather until Thursday the 15th, 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



Z1 



and on Friday the 16th, the Wind be- 
ing at N. W. we Weigh'd and sailed 
up Cape Fair River, some 4 or 5 
Leagues, and came to an anchor in 6 
or 7 Fathom, at which time several 
Indians came on board and brought us 
great store of fresh Fish, large Mul- 
lets, young Bass, Shads, and several 
other sorts of very good, well tasted 
fish. On Saturday the 17th, we went 
down to the Cape, to see the English 
Cattle, but could not find 'em, tho' we 
rounded the Cape, and having an In- 
dian guide with us, here we rode till 
October the 24th. The Wind being 
against us, we could not go up the 
River with our Ship, but went on 
Shoar and viewed the Land of those 
Quarters. On Saturday we weigh'd 
and sailed up the River some 4 
Leagues, or thereabouts. Sunday the 
25th we weighed again, and rowed up 
the River, it being calm, and got some 
14 Leagues from the Harbour's Mouth, 
where we moored our ship. On Mon- 
day October 26th, we went down with 
the Yawl, to Necoes, an Indian Plan- 
tation, and viewed the Land there. On 
Tuesday the 27th, we rowed up the 
main river, with our long-boat, and 12 
men, some 10 Leagues, or thereabouts. 
On Wednesday the 28th we rowed up 
about 8 or 10 Leagues more 
and came to a tree that lay cross the 
River; but because our provisions were 
almost spent, we proceeded no farther, 
but returned downward before the 
night, and on Monday the 2nd of No- 
vember we came on board our ship. 
Tuesday the third, we lay still to re- 
fresh ourselves. On Wednesday the 
4th we went 5 Leagues or 6 up the 
River, to search a branch that run out 
of the main river towards the N. W. 
In which branch we went up 5 or 6 
Leagues; but not liking the Land we 
returned on board that night about 
Midnight, and called that Place 
Swampy Branch. Thursday, Novem- 



ber the 5th, we stayed aboard. On Fri- 
day the 6th we went up Green's River, 
the mouth of it being against the 
Place at which rode our ship. On Sat- 
urday the 7th. we proceeded up the 
said River some 14 or 15 Leagues in 
all, and found it ended in several small 
branches; the Land for the most part 
being marshy and Swamps, we return- 
ed towards our Ships, and got aboard 
in the Night. Sunday November the 
8th, we lay still, and on Monday the 
9th, went up again the Main River, be- 
ing well stocked with provisions, and 
all things necessary, and proceeded 
upwards until Thursday noon, the 
12th, at which time we came to a place, 
where were two Islands in the middle 
of the river; and by reason of the 
Crookedness of the River at that Place, 
several Trees lay across both Branches, 
which stopped the passage of each 
branch, so that we could proceed no 
farther with our boat, but went up the 
river-side by land, some three or four 
Miles, and found the River wid- 
er and wider. So we returned, 
leaving it as far as we could 
see up a long Reach, running N. 
E. we judging ourselves near 50 
Leagues north from the River's Mouth. 
In our return we viewed the Land on 
both sides the River and found as good 
tracts of dry, well wooded. Pleasant, 
and delightful Ground, as we have seen 
anywhere in the World, with abund- 
ance of long thick Grass on it, the 
Land being very Level, with steep 
banks on both sides the River, and in 
some places very high, the Woods 
stor'd everywhere with great numbers 
of Turkies and Deer, we never going 
to shoar, but we saw of each sort; as 
also great store of Partridges, Cranes 
and Conies in several places; we like- 
wise heard several wolves howling in 
the Woods, and saw where they had 
torn a deer in pieces. Also in the riv- 
er we saw a great store of Ducks, Teal, 



38 



lawson's history 



Widgeon; and in the Woods great 
Flocks of Parrakeeto's. Tlie timber 
that the Woods afford, for the most 
part, consists of Oaks of four or five 
sorts, all differing in leaves but all 
bearing very good acorns. We meas- 
ured many of the oaks in several 
places, which we found to be in bigness 
some two, some three and others al- 
most four fathom high, before you 
come to boughs or limbs; forty, fifty 
and sixty foot and some more; and 
those Oaks very common in the upper 
parts of both Rivers; also a very large 
Tall tree of great bigness, which some 
call Cyprus, the right name we know 
not, growing in Swamps. Likewise the 
Walnut, Birch, Beech, Maple, Ash, 
Bay, Willow, Alder, and Holly; and in 
the lowermost parts innumerable 
Pines, tall and good for Boards or 
Masts, growing for the most Part, in 
barren and sandy, but in some cases up 
the River, in good Ground, being mixed 
amongst Oaks and other Timbers. We 
saw Mulberry Trees, Multitudes of 
Grape Vines, and some grapes which 
we eat of. We found a very large 
and good Tract of Land on the N. W. 
Side of the River, thin of Timber, ex- 
cept here and there a very great Oak, 
and full of Grass, commonly as high 
as a Man's middle, and in many Places 
to his Shoulders, where we saw many 
Deer, and Turkies; one Deer having 
very large Horns and a great Body, 
we therefore called it Stag park. It 
being a very pleasant and delightful 
Place, we traveled in it several Miles, 
but saw no end thereof. So we return- 
ed to our boat and proceeded down the 
River, and came to another Place some 
25 Leagues from the river's mouth on 
the same side, where we found a place 
no less delightful than the former; and 
as far as we could judge both tracts 
came Into one. This lower place we 
call'd Rocky Point, because we found 
many Rocks and Stones of several 



sizes, up on the Land, which is not 
common. We sent our boat down the 
River before us, ourselves traveling 
by Land many Miles, Indeed we were 
so much taken with the Pleasantness 
of che country that we traveled into 
the Woods too far to recover our Com- 
pany and boat that night. The next 
day being Sunday we got to our boat, 
and on Monday the 16th of November 
proceeded down to a Place on the 
East side of the River, some 23 
Leagues from the Harbour's Mouth, 
which we call'd Turkey Quarters, be- 
cause we killed several Turkies there- 
citouts; we viewed the Land there and 
found some Tracts of good ground, 
and high, facing the River about one 
Mile ioward, but backwards some two 
Miles, all Pine Land but good Pascure 
Ground. We returned to our boat and 
proceeded down some two or three 
Leagues, where we had formerly view- 
ed, and found it a tract of as good 
Land as any we have seen, and had .as 
good Timber on it. The banks on the 
River being high, therefore we called 
it High-Land-Point. Having viewed 
that, we proceeded down the River, 
going on Shoar in several places on 
both sides, it being generally large 
Marshes, and many of them so dry that 
they may more fitly be called Mead- 
ows. The Woodfand against them is 
for the most part Pine and in some 
Places as barren as ever we saw Land, 
but in other Places good Pasture 
Ground. On Tuesday November 17th 
we got aboard our Ship, riding against 
the. Mouth of Green's River, where our 
Men were providing Wood, and fitting 
the ship for the Sea. In the Interim 
we took a view of the country on both 
sideE of the river there, finding some 
Good Land but more Bad, and the best 
not comparable to that above. Friday 
the 20th was foul weather, yet in the 
afternoon we weighed went down the 
River, about two Leagues, and came to 



OF NORTH CAROLI:>^A. 



39 



it II Anchor against the Mouth of Hil- 
ton River, and took a view of the Land 
there on both sides, which appeared 
to us much like that of Green's River. 
Monday the 23rd, we went with our 
long Boat well Victual'd and Mann'd, 
up Hilton's River, and when we came 
thrte Leagues or thereabouts up the 
same, we found this and Green's River 
to come into one, and so continu'd for 
four or five Leagues, which makes a 
great island betwixt them. "We pro- 
ceeded still up the river until they 
parted again, keeping up Hilton's Riv- 
er on the Larboard side, where we 
found another large branch of Green's 
River to come into Hilton's, which 
makes another great island. On the 
starboard side going up we proceeded 
still up the river some four leagues, 
and returned, taking a view of the 
Land on both sides, and then judged 
ourselves to be from oui* ship some 18 
Leagues W. and by N. One League 
below this place came four Indians in a 
canoe to us, and sold us several Bas- 
kets of Acorns, which we satisfied 
Lhem for and so left them; but one of 
them follov/ed us on the Shore some 
two or three Miles, till he came on the 
top of a high bank, facing on the Riv- 
er, and as we row'd underneath it, the 
Fellow shot an Arrow at us, which 
very narrowly missed one of our Men 
and struck in the upper side of the 
boat, but broke in pieces, leaving the 
head behind. Thereupon we went all 
upon the shore (except four to guide 
the boat) to look for the Indian but 
could not find him. At last we heard 
some sing, farther in the Woods, which 
we looked upon as a challenge to us 
to come and fight them. We went to- 
wards them with all speed, but before 
we came in sight of them heard two 
guns go off from our Boat; whereupon 
we retreated as fast as we could to 
secure our Boat and Men. When we 
came to them we found all well, and 



demanded the reason of their firing 
the Guns; they told us that an Indian 
came creeping along the bank, as they 
supposed to shoot at them, therefore 
they shot him at a great distance, with 
small shot, but thought they did him 
no hurt, for they saw him run away. 
Presently after our return to the boat 
and while we were thus talking, came 
tv/o Indians to us with their Arrows, 
crying Bonny, Bonny. We took their 
bows and arrows from them, and gave 
them beads to their content, then we 
led them by their hands to the boat 
and showed them the arrow head 
sticking in her side, and related to 
them the whole passage; which when 
they understood both of them showed 
a great Concern, and signed to us by 
signs that they knew nothing of it. 
So we let them go, and marked a tree 
on the top of the place, calling the 
Place Mount-Skerry. We looked up 
the river as far as we could discern, 
and saw that it widened and came 
running directly down the country. So 
W2 returned, viewing the Land on both 
sides the river, and finding the banks 
steep in some places, but very high 
in others. The bank-sides are general- 
ly ciay, and as some of our Company 
did affirm, some Marl. The Land and 
Timber up this River is no way in- 
feiior to the best in the other, which 
we called the Main-River. So far as 
we could discern, this seemed as fair 
if not fairer than the former, and we 
think runs farther in the country, be- 
cause a strong current comes down, 
and a great deal more drift wood. But 
to return to the business of the Land 
and Timber, we saw several plots of 
ground cleared by the Indians, after 
their weak manner, compassed round 
with timber trees, which they are no 
wise able to fell, and so keep the sun 
from corn fields very much; yet nev- 
ertheless we saw as large cornstalks or 
larger than we have seen anywhere 



4o 



lawson's history 



else; so we proceeded down the river 
until we found the Canoe the Indian 
was in, who shot at us. In the Morn- 
ing we went on shear and cut the 
same in pieces. The Indians perceiving 
us coming towards them ran away. 
Going to his Hut we pull'd it down 
and broak his pots and platters and 
spoons, and tore the Deer-skins and 
Mats in pieces, and took away a bas- 
ket of acorns; and afterwards proceed- 
ed down the river two leagues, or 
thereabouts, and came to another place 
of Indians, bought Acorns and some 
Corn of them, and went downwards 
two leagues more. At last, espying an 
Indian peeping over a high bank, we 
held up a gun to him, and calling to 
him Skerry, presently several Indians 
came in sight to us, and made great 
signs of friendship, saying Bonny, Bon- 
ny. Then running before us they en- 
deavored to persuade us to come on 
shoar, but we answered them with 
Bt3fn countenances, and called out 
Skerry, taking our guns and threat- 
ening to shoot at them, but they still 
cried E^)imy, Bonny; and when they 
sav\' they could not prevail or persuade 
us to come on shoar, two of them came 
ofC to us in a Canoe, one paddling with 
a great Cain, the other with his hand. 
As soon as they overtook us, they laid 
hold of our boat, sweating and blowing, 
and told us it was Bonny on Shore, 
and at last persuaded us to go on 
shore with them. As soon as we land- 
ed, several Indians to the number of 
40 lusty Men, came to us all in a great 
Sweat and told us Bonny: We showed 
them the arrowhead in the Boat side, 
and a piece of the Canoe we had cut 
in pieces. Whereupon the chief man 
amongst them made a long speech, 
threw beads into our boat, which is a 
gieat sign of love and friendship, and 
gave us to undei'Stand that when he 
heaid of the affront which we had re- 
ceived, it caused him to cry; and that 



he and his men were come to make 
peace with us, assuring us by signs 
that they would tye the Arons, and 
cut off the Head of the Fellow who had 
done us that wrong, and for a further 
testimony of their Love and Good- 
Will towards us, they presented us 
with two very handsome, proper young 
Indian Women, the tallest that ever 
we saw in this country; which we sup- 
posed to be the King's daughters or 
persons of some distinction among 
them. Those young women were so 
ready to come into our boat, that one 
of them crowded in and could hardly 
be persuaded to go out again. We 
presented the King with a hatchet and 
several beads, and made presents of 
beads also to the young women, chief 
men, and the rest of the Indians as far 
as our beads would go. They prom- 
ised us in four days to come on board 
our ship, and so departed from us. 
When we left the place, which was 
soon after, w"e called it Mount BDnny, 
because we had there concluded a 
firm peace. Proceeding down from 
the River further, two or three 
Leagues , we came to a place where 
9 or 10 Canoes were; we went ashore 
there and found several Indians, but 
(most of them were the same which 
had made peace with us before. We 
stayed very little at that place, but 
went directly down the River and came 
to our Ship before day. 

Thursday the 26th of November, the 
wind beine at south, we could not go 
down the river's mouth, but on Friday 
the 27th. we weighed at the Mouth of 
Hilton's River, and got down a League 
towards the harbour's Mouth. On Tues- 
day the 21&t of December we made a 
purchase of the River and Land of 
Oape Fair, of Wat-Coosa and such 
other Indians as appeared to us to be 
the chief of those parts. They brought 
us store of fresh Fish aboard, as Mul- 
lets, Shads and other sort, very good. 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



41 



This River is all fresh water, fit to 
drink. Some 8 Leagues within the 
Mouth, the tide runs up about S5 
Leiagues, but stops and rises a ereat 
deal further up. It flows at the Har- 
bour's Mouth S. E. and N. W. 6 foot at 
Neap Tides, and 8 foot at Spring Tides. 
Tlie Channel on the east side by the 
CaDe-Shoar. is the best and lies close 
abrofad the Cape-Land, being- three 
Fathoms at highwater, in the shallow- 
est part in the Channel, just at the en- 
trance; but as soon as you are oast 
that place, half a cable's length inward, 
you have 6 or 7 Fathoms, in others 4 
or 5 and in others but 9 or 10 foot, es- 
pecially where the river is broad. When 
the river comes to part and grows nar- 
row, there it is all channel from side lo 
side, in most Diaces, tho' in some you 
shall have 5, 6 or 7 Flathoms, but g-en- 
erally 2 or 3, Sand and Ooze. We viewed 
the Cape-land and judged it to be lit- 
tle worth, the woods of it being shrub- 
by and low, and the Land sandv and 
barren; in some places Grass and 
Rushes, in others nothing but clear 
sand. A Place fitter to starve Cattle in 
our judgment than to keep 'em alive, 
yet the Indians as we understand keep 
the English cattle down there, and suf- 
fer them not to go off the said Claoe (as 
we suppose) because the country In- 
dians shall have no part with them; 
and therefore 'tis likely they have fall- 
en out about them^ which shall have 
the greatest share. They brought on 
board our ship very good and fat Beef 
several times, which they sold us at a 
very reasonable price, also fat and very 
large Swine, good and cheap; but they 
may thank their friends of New Eng- 
land who brought their Hogs to so fair 
a Market. Some of the Indians brought 
very good Salt aboard us, and made 
signs pointing to both sides of the 
river's Mouth, that there was a great 
•store thereabouts. We siaw up the 
river several good places for the set- 



ting up of Corn or Saw-Mills. In that 
time, as our business called us up and 
down the River and branches, we killed 
of wild fowl 4 Swan, 10 Geese, 29 
Cranes, 10 Turkeys 40 Ducks and Mal- 
lards, 3 dozen of Parrakettos and 6 
dozen of other small fowls, ias Curlues, 
and Plover, etc. 

Whereas there was a writing left in 
a post, at the Point of Cape Flair River, 
by those New England Men, that left 
Cattle with the Indians there, the con- 
tents whereof tended not only to the 
Disparagement of the Land about the 
said River, but also to the great dis- 
couitazement of all such as should 
hereafter come into those Parts to 
settle, in answer to that scandal- 
ous writing, we whose names are 
underwritten, do affirm that we have 
seen facing both sides of the River, and 
brartches of the Oape-Fair aforesaid, 
as good land and as well timbered as 
any we have seen in other parts of the 
World, sufficient to accommodate thou- 
sands of our English Nation, and lying 
commodiously by the River's Side. 

On Friday the 4th of December, the 
Wind being fair, we put out to Sea, 
bound for Barbados; and on the 6th of 
February 1663-4 came to an anchor in 
Carlisle Bay; it having pleased God 
after severial apparent dangers both by 
Sea and Land to bring us all in safety 
to our long-wish'd-for and much de- 
sired Port; to render an account of our 
discovery; the Verity of which we do 
assert. Anthony Long. William Hil- 
ton. Peter Fabian. 

Thus you have an account of the Lat- 
itude, Soil and Advantages of Cape 
Fair, or Clarendon River, whi'ch was 
settled in the year 1661, or thereabouts, 
and had it not been for the irregular 
practise of some of that Colony against 
the Indians, by sending away some of 
their children (as I have been told) 
under the pretence in instructing them 
in learning and the principles of the 



42 



lawson's history 



Christian religion; which so disgusted 
the Indians, that tho' they had no 
guns, yet they never gave over until 
they hiad entirely rid themselves of the 
English, by their Bows and Arrows; 
which they did not only take off them- 
selves, but also their Stocks of Cattle; 
and this was so much the more ruinous 
to them, in that they could have no as- 
sistance from South Carolina, which 
was not then planted; (and the other 
Plantations were but in their Infancy. 
Were it not for such practise, I say it 
might in all probability have been, at 
this dlay, the best Settlement in their 
Lordship's great Province of Carolina. 

'Tlie Sound of Albermarl, with the 
rivers and creeks of that country, af- 
ford a rich and durable soil. The Land 
in most places lies indifferent low, (ex- 
cept in Chuwon, and high up the 
Rivers) but bears an incredible Burden 
of Timber; the low grounds being cov- 
ered with Beech, and the High-Land 
yielding Lofty Oaks, Walnut trees and 
other useful Timber. ' The Country in 
some Plantations bas yearly produced 
Indian corn, or some other grain, ever 
since this country was first seated (vet 
to all appiearance) it seems not to be in 
the least impoverish'd neither do the 
Planters ever miss of a good crop, un- 
less a very unniatural season visits 
them, which seldom happens. 

OF THE CORN OF CAROLINA. 

The Wheat of this place is very good, 
seldom yielding less than thirty-fold, 
provided the Land is good where it is 
sown; Not but that there has been 
sixty-six Increase for one measure 
sown in Piny-Land, which we account 
the meanest sort. And I have been in- 
formed by people of Credit, thiat Wheat 
which was planted in very rich Land, 
brought a hundred and odd Pecks for 
one. If our Planters, when they found 
such great increase, would be so curi- 
ous as to make nice Observations of the 
Soil, and other remarkable Accidents, 



they would soon be acquainted with the 
nature of the earth and Climate, and be 
qualified to manage their Agriculture 
to more Certainty, and greater advan- 
tage; whereby they might arrive to the 
Crops and Harvests of Babylon, and 
those other fruitful countries so much 
talked of. For I must confess that I 
never saw one acre of Land Managed 
as it ought to be in Carolina, since I 
knew it; and were they as nesrligent in 
their Husbandry in Europe, as they are 
in Carolina, their Land would produce 
nothing but Weeds and Striaw. 

They have tried rye and it thrives 
very well; but having such plenty of 
Maiz, they do not regard it because it 
makes black bread, unless very curi- 
ously handled. 

Barley has been sown in small quian- 
tities and does better than can be ex- 
pected; because that grain requires the 
ground to be very well worked with re- 
peated Ploughings, which our general 
Way of breaking the earth with hoes 
ctan, by no means, perform, tho' in sev- 
eral places we have a light, rich, deep, 
black Mould, which is the particular 
soil in which barley best thrives. 

The naked Oats thrive extraordinary 
well, and the other would prove a very 
bold Grtain, but the Plenty of other 
Grains makes them not much coveted. 

The Indian corn or maiz proves the 
most useful grain in the world; and had 
it not been for the fruitfulness of this 
spiecies, it would have proved very diffi- 
cult to have settled some of the Plan- 
tations in America. It is very nourish- 
ing whether in bread, sodden or other- 
wise, and those poor Christian servants 
in Virginia, Maryland and the other 
northerly Plantations, that have been 
forced to live wholly upon it, do mani- 
festly prove, that it is the most nour- 
ishing grain, for a man to subsist on, 
without any other victuals. And this 
assertion is made good by the neg-ro 
slaves, who in many places eat nothing 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



43 



except this Indian Corn and Salt. Pigs 
and Poultry fed with this grain prove 
the sweetest of all others. It refuses 
no ground except the barren sand, and 
when planted in good ground will re- 
pay the planter seven or eight hundred 
fold, besides the Stalks bruised and 
boiled, make very pleasant Beer, being 
sweet like the Sugar-Cane. 

There are several sorts of rice, some 
bearded, others not, besides the red and 
white. But the white rice is the best; 
yet there is a sort of perfumed rice in 
the East Indies, which gives a curious 
flavour in the dressing. And with this 
sort America is not yet acquainted, 
neither can I learn that any of it has 
been brought over to Europe; the rice 
of Carolina being esteemed the best 
that comes to that Quarter of the 
World. It is of great increase, yielding 
from 800 to 1,000-fold, and thrives best 
in Wild Land, that has never been 
broken up before. 

Buckwheat is of great increase in 
Carolina; but we make no other use of 
it than instead of Maiz to feed Hogs 
and Poultry; and Guinea Corn, which 
thrives well here, serves for the same 
use. 

Of the pulse kind, we have many 
sorts. The first is the Bushel-bean, 
which is a spontaneous Product. They 
are so called, because they bring a 
bushel of beans for one that is planted. 
They are set in the Spring round Ar- 
bours, or at the feet of poles, up which 
they will climb, and cover the Wattling, 
making a very pretty shade to sit 
under. They continue flowering, bud- 
ding and ripening all the summer long, 
till the frost appiroaches, when they 
forbear their fruit and die. The stalks 
they grow on come to the thickness of 
a man's Thumb, and the bean is white 
and mottled, with a purple figure on 
each side of it. like an ear. They are 
very flat and eaten as the Windsor- 
Bean is, being an extrtaordinary well 



relished Pulse, either by themselves or 
with Meat. 

We have the Indian Rounceval, or 
IMiraculous Pease, so called from their 
long pods and great increase. These 
are latter Pease, and require a pretty 
long summer to ripen in. They are 
very good and so are the Bonavis, Cal- 
avanicies and Kanticocks, besides sev- 
eral others of that kind. 

Now I am launched into a Discourse 
of the Pulse, I must acquiaint you that 
the European Bean planted here, will 
in time degenerate into a dwarfish sort, 
if not prevented by a yearly supply of 
foreign seed, and an extravagant rich 
soil; yet these Pigmy-BOans are the 
sweetest of that kind I ever met withal. 

As for all the sorts of English Pease 
that we have yet made Tryal of, they 
thrive very well in Carolina. Particu- 
larly the white and grey Rouncival, the 
common field peiase, and Sickle Pease 
yield very well, and are of a good rel- 
ish. As for the other sorts I have not 
seen any made tryal of as yet. but 
question not their coming to great per- 
fection with us. 

The Kidney Beans were here before 
the English came, being very plentiful 
in the Indian Corn-Fields. 

The garden roots that thrive well in 
Oarolina, are Carrots, Leeks, Parsnips, 
Turneps, Potatoes of several delicate 
sorts, Ground-Artichokes, Radishes, 
Horse-Radish, Beets, both sorts. 
Onions, Shallot, Garlick, Gives, and the 
Wild-Onions. 

The salads are the Lettice. Curl'd, 
Red, Cabbage, and Savoy. The spinage 
round and prickly, Fennell, sweet and 
the common sort, Samphire in the 
Marshes excellent, so is the dock or 
wild Rhubarb, Rocket, Sorrel, French 
and English Cresses of several sorts. 
Purslain Wild, and that of a larger 
size which grows in gardens, for this 
plant is never met withal in the Indian 
Plantations, and is therefore supposed 



44 



lawson's history 



to proceed from Cow-duns, which beast 
they keep not. Parsley two sorts, As- 
partagus thrives to a miracle, without 
hot beds or dunging the Land, White 
Cabbage from New England or Euro- 
pean Seed, for the people are negligent 
and unskilfull and don't take care to 
provide seed of their own. Colly-Flow- 
er we have not yet had lan opportunity 
to make tryal of, nor has the Artichoke 
ever appeared amongst us that I can 
learn. Coleworts plain and curl'd, 
Slavoys; besides the Watermelons of 
various sorts, very good, which should 
have gone amongst the fruits. Of 
Muskmelons we have very large and 
good, and several sorts of the Golden, 
Green, Guinea and Orange. Cucumbers 
long green and prickly, all these from 
the natural ground, and great increase 
without any helps of Dung or reflection. 
Pompions yellow and very large Bur- 
millions, Cashaws, an excellent fruit 
boil'd; Squashes, Simnals, Horns, and 
Gourds, besides many other species of 
less value, too tedious to name. 

Our pot herbia and others of use, 
which we already posess, are Angelica 
wild and tame. Balm, Bugloss, Borage, 
Burnet, Clary, Marigold, pot Marjoram, 
and other Marjorams, summer and 
winter Savory, Columbines, Tansey, 
Wormwood, Nep, Mallows, several 
sorts. Drage red and white. Lambs 
Quarters, Thyme, Hyssop, of a very 
large growth, sweet Bazil, Rosemary, 
Lavendar. The more Physical are 
Carduus Benedictus, the scurvy-grass 
of America, I never here met any of the 
European sort; Tobacco of many sorts. 
Dill, Carawa, Cummin, Anise, Corian- 
der, all sorts of PHantlain of En^-land, 
and two sorts spontaneous, good Vul- 
neraries; Elecampane, Comfrey, Net- 
tle the seed from England, none 
native; Monks Rhubarb, Burdock, 
Asiarum, wild in the woods, reck- 
oned one oif the Snake Roots, 
besides the common species, which 



are great Antidotes against the 
Serpent's Bite, and are easily raised in 
the garden. Mint, Jamestown weed, so 
called from Virginia, the seed it bears 
is very like that of an Onion; it is ex- 
cellent for curing burns, but taken in- 
wardly brings on a sort of drunken 
madness. 

THE PRESENT STATE OF CARO- 
LINA. 

When we consider the Latitude and 
Convenient Situation of Carolina, had 
we no further confirmation thereof, our 
Reason would inform us that such a 
Pilace lay fairly to be a delicious coun- 
try, being placed in that Girdle of the 
World which affords Wine, Oil, Fi'uit, 
Grtain, and Silk, with other rich com- 
modities, besides a Sweet Air, Moder- 
ate Climate, and Fertile Soil; these are 
the blessings (under Heaven's Protec- 
tion) that spin out the thread of life 
to its utmost extent, and crown our 
days with the sweets of Health and 
Plenty, which when joined with con- 
tent, render the Posessors the happiest 
Race of Men upon Earth. 

The Inhabitants of Carolina thro' the 
richness of the soil, live an easy and 
Pleasant Life. The Land being of sev- 
eral sorts of Compost, some stiff, others 
light, some Marl, others rich black 
Mould; here barren of Pine but afford- 
ing Pitch, Tar, Masts; there vastly 
rich, especially on the freshes of the 
River, one part bearing great Timbers, 
others being Savannas or natural 
Meads, where no Trees grow for sev- 
eral Miles, Adorned by Nature with a 
Pleasant Verdure, and beautiful Flow- 
ers, frequent in no other Places, yield- 
ing abundance of herbage for cattle, 
Sheep and Horses. The country in 
General affords pleasiant seats, the land 
except in some few Places, being dry 
and high banks, parcell'd our into most 
convenient necks (by the Creeks) easy 
to be fenced in for securing their stock 
to more strict Boundaries whereby. 



OF NORTH CAROI.INA. 



45 



with a small trouble of fencing, almost 
every man may enjoy to himself an en- 
tire Plantation, or rather Park. These, 
with other Benefits of Plenty of Fish, 
Wild-fowl, Venison, and the other con- 
veniences which this summer country 
naturally furnishes, has induced a 
g-reat many families to leave the more 
Northerly Plantations and sit down 
under one of the mildest governments 
in the world; in a country that, with 
moderate Industry, will afford all the 
Necessaries of Life. We have yearly 
abundance of strangers come amongst 
us, who chiefly strive to go Southerly 
to settle, because there is a vast tract 
of rich Land betwixt the Place we are 
seated in, and Cape Fair and upon the 
River, and more Southerly which is in- 
habited by Indians, who are this time 
well affected to the English, and very 
desirous of their coming to live amongst 
them. The more Southerly the Milder 
Winters, with the advantage of pur- 
chasing the Lord's Land at the most 
easy and Modenate Rate of any Lands 
In America nay, (allowing all advan- 
tages thereto annexed) I may say the 
Universe does not afford such another; 
besides men have a great advantage of 
choosing good and Commodious Tracts 
of Land at the first seating of a Coun- 
try or River, whereas the later set- 
tlers are forced to purchase smaller 
Dividends of the old Standers, and 
sometimes at very considerable rates, as 
now in Virginia and Maryliand, where 
a thousand acres of good Land cannot 
be bought under 20 shillings an acre, 
besides two shillings every year in Ac- 
knowledgement of every 100 acres, be- 
sides which sum, be it more or less, 
will serve to put the Merchant or 
Planter here into a good posture of 
Buildings, Slaves and other Necessities 
when the purchase of his land comes to 
him on such easy terms; and as our 
grain and pulse thrive with us to ad- 
miration, no less do our flocks of 



Horses, Cattle, Sheep and Swine multi- 
ply. 

The beef of Carolina equalizes the 
best that our neighboring colonies af- 
ford; the oxen are of a greater size 
when they are suffered to live to a fit 
age. I have seen fat and good beef at 
all Times of the year, but O'ctober and 
the cool months are the seasons we kill 
our Beeves in, when we intend them 
for salting or expiortatixsn; for then 
they are in their Prime of Flesh, all 
coming from Grass, we never using 
any other food for our cattle. The 
Heifers bring Calves at eighteen or 20 
months old, which makes such a won- 
derful increase that many of our 
Planters, from very mean beginnings, 
have raised themselves, and are now 
masters of hundreds of Fat Beeves and 
other Cattle. 

The Veal is very good and white, so 
is the Milk very rich, there beinff at 
present considerable quantities of but- 
ter and cheese made that is very good, 
not only serving our own necessities, 
but we send out a great de'al among 
our neighbors. 

The Sheep thrive very well at pres- 
ent, having mostly commonly two 
lambs at one yeaning. As the country 
comes to be opened they prove to be 
better, change of pasture being agree- 
able to that useful creature. Mutton 
is (generally) exceedingly fat, and of 
a good Relish; their Wool is very fine 
and proves of Good Staple. 

The Horses are well shaped and 
swift; the best of them would sell for 
10 or 12 pounds in England. They prove 
excellent Drudges, and will travel in- 
credible Journeys. They are troubled 
with very few Distempers, neither do 
the cloudy-faced grey horses go blind 
there, as in Europe. As for Spavins, 
Splints and Ring-Bones, they (are here 
never met withal as I can learn. Were 
we to have our Stallions and choice of 
Mares from England, or any other of a 



46 



lawson's history 



good sort, and careful to keep them on 
the Highlands, we could not flail of a 
good breed; but having been supplied 
with our first horses from a neighbor- 
ing Plantation, which were but mean, 
they do not as yet come up to the ex- 
cellency of the Knglish Horse; tho' we 
generally find that the Colt exceeds in 
beauty and strength its Sire and Dam. 

The Pork exceeds any in Europe, the 
great Diversity and Goodness of the 
Acorns and Nuts whiich the Woods af- 
ford, making the Flesh of an excellent 
taste, and produces great Quantities; 
eo that if Oarolina is not the chief it is 
not inferior, in this one Commodity, to 
any Colony in the hands o,f the E!ng- 
lish. 

As for the Goats, they have been 
found to thrive and increase well, but 
being mischievous to orchards and 
other trees, makes people decline keep- 
ing them. 

Our Produce for exportation to Eu- 
rope and the Islands in America are 
Beef, Pork, Ttallow, Hides, Deer- 
Skins. Furs, Pitch, Tar, Wheat, Indian 
Corn, Pease, Masts, Staves, Heading, 
Boards, and all sorts of Timber and 
Lumber for Madeira and the West In- 
dies; Rozin, Turpentine, and several 
sorts of Gums and Tars, with some 
Medical Drugs, are produced here, be- 
sides Rice, and several other foreign 
grains, which thrive very well. Good 
Bricks and Tiles are made, besides 
several sorts of useful earths, as Bole, 
Fuller's Earth, Oaker, Tobacco-pipe 
Clay, in great plenty; Earths for the 
Potter's Trade, and fine siand for the 
Glass Maker. In building with bricks, 
we make our Lime of oyster-shells, tho' 
we have great store of Lime-stone, to- 
wards the Heads of our Rivers, where 
are stones of all sorts that are useful, 
besides viast quantities of useful Mar- 
ble. Iron-stone we have plenty of, both 
in the Low-grounds and on the Hills; 
Lead and copper has been found, so 



has Antimony heretofore; but no en- 
deavors have been used to discover 
those Subteraneous species; otherwise 
we might in all probability, find out 
the best of minerals, which are not 
wanting in Carolina. Hot baths we 
have an account of from the Indians 
that frequent the Hill country, where a 
great likelihood appears of miaking 
salt-peter, because the earth in many 
places is strongly mixed with a nitrous 
Salt, which is much coveted by the 
Beasts, who come at some seasons in 
great Droves and Herds, and by their 
much licking of this earth, make great 
Holes in those banks, which sometimes 
lie at the heads of great Precipices 
where their eagerness after this salt 
hastens their end, by falling down the 
high banks, so th/at they are dashed 
into pieces. It must be confessed that 
the Most Noble and Sweetest Part of 
this Country is not inha.bited by any 
but the Savages; and a great deal of 
the richest part thereof hias no inhabi- 
tants but the Beasts of the Wilderness. 
For the Indians are not inclinable to 
settle in the Richest Land, because 
the Timbers are too large for them to 
cut down, and too much burdened with 
Wood for their Labourers to make 
Plantations of; besides, the Healthful- 
ness of those Hills is apparent, by the 
Gigantick statue and the Gray Heads 
so common amongst the Savages that 
dwell near the Mountains; the great 
Creator of all Things, having most 
wisely diffused His Blessings, by par- 
celling out the Vintages of the World, 
into such Lots, as His wonderful fore- 
sight thought most proper, requisite 
and convenient for the Habitations of 
His creatures. Towards the Sea, we 
have the Conceniency of Trade, trans- 
portation, and other Helps the Water 
affords, but oftentimes these Advan- 
tages are attended with indifferent 
Land, a thick Air, and other Inconven- 
iences, when backwards near the 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



47 



Mountains, you meet with the Richest 
Soil, a sweet, thin air, dry Roads, 
pleasant small murmuring- streams, 
and several beneficial productions, and 
species which are unknown in the Eu- 
ropean World. One part of this coun- 
try affords what the other is wholly a 
stranger to. 

We have Chalybeate Waters of sev- 
eral Tastes and different Qualities; 
some purge, other work by the other 
emunctories. We have amongst the 
inhabitants a Water that is inwardly 
a great Apervive, and outwardly cures 
Ulcers, Tettiars, and Sores, by wash- 
ing- therein. 

There has been a Coal-Mine lately 
found near the Mannakin Town, above 
the Falls of James River in Virginia, 
which proves very good, and is used by 
the Smiths for their Forges; land we 
need not doubt of the same amongst 
us, towards the heads of our Rivers, 
but the plenty of wood, which is much 
better than our fuel, makes us not in- 
quisitive after Coal-Mines. Most of the 
French who lived at that town ojy 
James River, are removed to Trent 
River, in North Carolina, where the 
rest were expected daily to come to 
them, when I came awiay, which was 
in August, 1708. They are much taken 
with the pleasantness of that country, 
and indeed, are a very industrious peo- 
ple. At present they make very good 
linen Cloath, and Thread, and lare very 
well versed in cultivating Hemp and 
Flax, of .both which they raise very 
considerable quantities; and design to 
try an ess'ay of the Grape, for making 
of Wine. 

As for those of our own country in 
Carolina, some of the Men are very 
Laborious, and make great Improve- 
ments in their way; but I dare hardly 
give 'em the chariacter in General. The 
easy way of living in that Plentiful 
Country, makes a great many Planters 
very negligent, which, were they other- 



wise, the Colony might now have been 
in a far better condition than it is as 
to trade and other advantages which 
universal industry would have led 
them into. 

The Women are the most Industrious 
Sex in thiat place, and by their food 
Housewifry, make a good deal of 
Cloath of their own cotton. Wool and 
Flax; some of them keeping their fam- 
ilies (though large) very decently ap- 
parel'd, both with linnens and Wool- 
ens, so that they hiave no occasion to 
run into the Merchant's debt, or lay 
their Money out on stores for cloath- 
ing. 

The Christian Natives of Carolina 
are a straight, clean-limbed People; 
the Children being seldom or never 
troubled with Rickets, or those other 
distempers that the Europeans are 
visited withal. 'Tis next to a Mirajcle 
to see one of them deformed in body. 
The vicinity of the Sun makes no im- 
pression on Men, who labour out of 
doors or use the Waters. As for those 
Women who do not expose themselves 
to the Weather, they are often very 
Fair, and generally as Well-Featured 
as you shall see anywhere, and have 
very brisk charming eyes, which sets 
them off to advantage. They miarry 
very young, some at thirteen and four- 
teen; and she that stays until twenty is 
reckoned a Stale Maid; which is a very 
indifferent character in that warm 
country. The Women are very fruitful, 
most of the Houses being full of little 
ones. It has been observed that wo- 
men long married, and without chil- 
dren in other places, have removed to 
Carolina and become Joyful Mothers. 
They have very easy Travail in their 
Child-bearing, in which they are so 
happy, as seldom to miscarry. Both 
sexes ^are generally spare of body, and 
not Cholerick, nor easily cast down at 
disapipointments and Losses, seldom im- 
moderately grieving at misfortunes. 



48 



i^awson's history 



unless for the loss of their nearest Re- 
lations and Friends, which seems to 
make a more than ordinary impression 
upon them. Many of the Women are 
very handy in Canoes, and will man- 
age them with great Dexterity and 
iSikill, which they become (accustomed 
to in this Watery Country. They are 
ready to help their Husbands in any 
Servile Work, as Planting when the 
season of the weather requires Expedi- 
tion; Pride seldom preventing Good 
Housewifry. The girls are not bred up 
to the wheel and Sewing only, but the 
dairy land affairs of the House they are 
very well acquainted withal; so that 
you shall see them whilst very young, 
manage their business with a great 
deal Oif Conduct and Alacrity. The 
children of both Sexes are very docile, 
and learn anything with a great deal of 
ease and Method, and those that have 
the advantage of education, write good 
hands and prove good accountants," 
which is most Coveted, and indeed 
most necessary in these Parts. The 
young men are commonly of a bashful 
sober behaviour; few pi-oving prodigals 
to consume what the industry of their 
parents has left them, but commonly 
Improve it. The marrying so young 
carries a double advantage with it; 
that is that the parents see their chil- 
dren provided for in marriage; and the 
young married people are taught by 
their Parents, how to get their living; 
for their Admonitions make great im- 
pressions on their children. I have 
heard, (before I knew this New World) 
that the Natives of America were a 
short-lived people, which by all the ob- 
servations I could ever make, proves 
quite contrary; for those who are born 
here, and In other colonies, live to as 
great ages as any of the Europeans, 
the Climate being free from consump- 
tion, which distemper, so fatal to Eng- 
land, they are strangers to. And as 
the country becomes more cleared of 



wood, it still becomes more Healthful 
to the Inhabitants, unless addicted to 
the Ague; which is incident to most 
new-comers in America from Europe, 
yet not mortal. A gentle Emetick sel- 
dom misses of driving it away, but if 
it is not too troublesome, 'tis better to 
let the seasoning have its own course, 
in which case the party is commonly 
free from it ever after and very 
Healthful. 

And now, as to the other Advantages 
the Country Affords, we do not guess 
at them at present, because as I said 
before, the best part of this country is 
not inhabited by the English, from 
whence probably will hereafter spring 
productions thiat this age does not 
dream of, and of much more advantage 
to the inhabitants than any things we 
are yet acciuainted withal. And as for 
severlal productions of other countries, 
much in the same latitude, we may 
expect with good management, they 
will become familiar to us, as Wine, 
Oil, Fruit, Silk, and other profitable 
commodities, such as Drugs, Dyes, etc. 
And at present the curious may have 
a large field to satisfy, and divert 
themselves in as collections of strange 
Beasts, Birds, Insects, Reptiles, Shells, 
Pishes, Minerals, Herbs, Flowers, 
Plants, Shrubs, intricate Roots, Gums, 
Tars, Rozins, Dyes, Stones, with sev- 
eral others that yield Siatisfaction and 
Profit to those whose inclinations tend 
that Way. And as for what may be 
hoped for, towards a Happy Life and 
Being, by such as design to move 
thither, I shall add this: That with 
prudent management, I can affirm by 
experience, with a small beginning one 
may live very comfortable, and not 
only provide for the necessaries of life, 
but likewise for those who are to suc- 
ceed to him. Provisions being very 
plentiful, and of Good Variety; to ac- 
commodiate genteel Housekeeping, and 
the neighbouring Indians are friendly 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



49 



in many cases and serviceable to us, 
in making us Wares to catch fish in, 
for a small matter, which proves of 
great adviantage to large families, be- 
cause those engines take great quanti- 
ties of many sorts and kinds of fish, 
which are very good and nourishing: 
Some of them Hunt and Fowl for us 
at reasonable ilates, the country being 
as plentifully provided with all sorts of 
Game as any Part of America; the 
poorer sort of Planters often get them 
to Plant for them, by hiring them for 
that season, or for so much work, 
which commonly comes very relason- 
able. Moreover, it is remarkable, that 
no place on the Continent of America, 
has seated an English Colony so free 
from bloodshed as Carolina, but all the 
others have been more Damaged and 
Disturbed by the Indians, than they 
have, which is worthy of notice, when 
we consider how oddly it was first 
planted with inhabitants. 

The Fishing-Trade in Carolina might 
be carried on to a great ladvantage, 
considering how many sorts of excel- 
lent fish our Sounds and Rivers af- 
ford, which cure very well with salt, 
as has been experienced by some small 
quantities, which have been sent 
abroad and yield a good price. As for 
the whale fishing, it is no otherwise re- 
garded than by a few People who live 
on the Sand Banks, and those only 
work on dead fish cast ashore, none 
being struck on our coast, as they are 
to the Northward, although we have 
plenty of Whales there. Great Plenty 
is generally the ruin of Industry. Thus 
our Merchants are not many, nor have 
those few there be, applied themselves 
to the European tnade. The Planter sits 
contented at home, whilst his oxen 
thrive and grow fat, and his stocks 
daily increase; the fatted Porkers and 
Poultry are easily raised to his Table, 
and his orchard affords him Liquor, 
so that he eats and drinks away the 



cares of the world, and desires no other 
Happiness than that which he daily en- 
joys. Whereas not only the European, 
but also the Indian trade might be 
carried on to a great Profit, because 
we lie as fairly for the body of Indians, 
as any settlement in English-America. 
And as for the small trade that has 
been carried on in that way, the Deal- 
ers therein have throve as fast as any 
men, and the soonest iialsed themselves 
of any people I have known in Caro- 
lina. 

Lastly, as to the climate it is very 
healthful; our summer is not so Hot as 
in other places, to the Eastward, in the 
same Latitude, neither are we ever 
visited by any Earthquakes, as many 
places in Italy and other Southern 
Countries are. Our northerly winds in 
summer cool the air, and free us from 
pestilent fevers, which Spain, Barbary, 
and the neighboring countries in Eu- 
rope, etc., are visited withal. Our Sky 
is generally Serene and Clear, and the 
Air very Thin, in comparison with 
many parts of Europe, where the Con- 
sumptions and CaUarrhs reign among 
the Inhabitants. The Winter has sev- 
eral fits of sharp weather, especially 
when the Wind is at N. W. which al- 
ways clears the sky, tho' never so thick 
before. However such weather is very 
agreeable to European Bodies, and 
makes them Healthy. The N. E. Winds 
blowing in Winter, bring with them 
thick weather, and in the spring some- 
times Blight the Fruit; but they very 
seldom endure long, being blown away 
by westerly winds, and then all be- 
comes fair and clear again. Our Spring 
in Carolinfa is very beautiful, and the 
most pleasant weather a person can 
enjoy. The Fall is accompanied with 
cool mornings, which come in toward 
the latter end of August and so continue 
with (most commonly) very moderate 
weather, till about Christmas; when 
the Winter comes on apace. Tho' these 



50 



lawson's history 



seasons are very piercing, yet the cold 
is of no continuance. Perhaps you will 
have Cold Weather for three or four 
days at a time, then pleasant Wlarm 
Weather follows, such as you have in 
England, about the latter end of April 
or beginnin'^ of May. In the year 1707 
we had the severest winter in Oarolina, 
that ever was known since the English 
came to settle there; for our Rivers 
that were not above half a Mile wide, 
and fresh waters, were frozen over; 
and some of them in the north part of 
this Country were passable for peop,le 
to wlalk over. 

One of the Great Advantages of 
North Carolina, is that we are not a 
Frontier, and near the Enemy; which 
proves very Chargeable and Trouble- 
some in Time of War to those Colonies 
th(at are so seated. Another great ad- 
vantage comes from its being near Vir- 
ginia, where we come often to a Good 
Market, at the return of the Guinea 
Ships for Negro's and the Remnant of 
their Stores, which is very Commodi- 
ous for the Indian trade, besides at 
War- Time we lie nelar at hand to go 
under their Convoy and to sell our 
Provisions to the Tobacco Fleets; for 
the Planting of Tobacco generally in 
those Colonies prevents their being 
supplied with stores, sufficient for vict- 
ualling their Ships. 

As for the Commodities which are 
necessary to carry over to this Planta- 
tion, for use and merchandize, and are 
therefore requisite for those to have 
along with them, that intend to trans- 
port themselves thither; they are Guns, 
Powder and Shot, Flints, Linnens, of 
all sorts, but chiefly ordinary Blues, 
Osnabrugs, Scotch and Irish Linnens, 
and some fine, 'Mens and Womens 
Claaths ready made up, some few 
Broadcloths, Kerseys, and Druggets, 
to which you must add Haberdashers- 
Wares, Hats about five or six shillings 
apiece, and few finer; a few wigs, not 



long and pretty thin hair, thin stuffs 
for Women, Iron Works, as Nails, 
Spades, Axes, broad and narrow Hoes, 
Frows, Wedges, and Saws of all sorts, 
with other Tools for Carpenters, Join- 
ers, and Coopers, Shoemakers, Shave- 
locks, etc., all which and others 
which are necessary for the Plan- 
tiations, you may be informed of, 
and buy at very reasonable rates, of 
Mr. James Gilbert, Ironmonger, in 
Mitre-Tavern-Tard near Aldgate. You 
may also be used very kindly for your 
Cuttlery-Ware, and other advantage 
ous merchandizes, and your Cargo's 
well sorted, by Capt. Sharpi, at the Blue 
Gate in Cannon street; and for 
Earthen-Ware, Window glass. Grind- 
stones, Mill stones. Paper, Ink-Powder, 
Saddles, Bridles, and what other things 
you are minded to take with you, for 
pleasure or ornam.ent. 

And now I shall proceed to the rest 
of the vegetables, that are common in 
Carolina, in reference to the Place 
where I left off, which is the natural 
history of that country. 
OF THE VEGBTABLES OF CARO- 
LINA. 

The Spontaneous shrubs of this Coun- 
try are the Larkheel Tree, three sorts 
of honey-suckle tree, the first of which 
grows in Branches as our Piemento- 
Tree does-, that is alwiays in low, moist 
ground, and the other grows in Clear, 
moist Land, the Flower more cut and 
Lacerated; the third, Mhich is the mos". 
beautiful, and I think the most charm- 
ing flower of its colour, I ever saw, 
grows betwixt tw'o and three foot high, 
■dnd for the most part by the side of a 
i-iwampy wood, or on the banks of our 
Rivers, but never near the salt water. 
All the soriis are white; the last grows 
in a great bunch of Honeysuckles, set 
up on one chief stem, and is common- 
iy the bigness of a large turnip. Noth- 
ing can appear more beautiful than 
these, when in their splendour, which 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



51 



is in April and May. The next is the 
Honeysuckle of the Forest; it grows 
about a foot high, bearing its flowers 
on small Pedestals, several of them 
standing on the Main Stock, which is 
the thickness of a Wheat-Straw. We 
have also the Wood-bind, much the 
same as in England, Princes-Feather, 
very large and beautiful in the Gar- 
den; Tres-Colores, branched Sun- 
flowers. Double Poppies, Lupires, of 
several pretty sorts, spontaneous; and 
the Sensitive plant is said to be near the 
Mountains, which I have not yet seen. 
Saf-Flowers; (and I believe the Saffron 
Flower of England woxild thrive here 
if planted) the yellow Jessimin is wild 
in our woods, of a pleasant smell; 
Evergreens are here plentifully found, 
of a very quick growth, and pleasant 
shade; Cypress or white Cedar, the 
Pitch Pine, the Yellow Pine, the white 
Pine with long leaves; and the smaller 
Almond Pine, which lasts bears Ker- 
nels in the Apple, tasting much like 
an Almond; and in some years there 
falls such plenty, as to make the Hog^ 
fat; Horn Beam; Cedar, two sorts; 
Holly, two s'orts; Bay-tree, two sorts; 
one of the dwarf-bay aibout 12 foot 
high; the other the bigness of a mid- 
dling Pine-Tree, about two foot and a 
half Diameter; Daurel Trees, in 
Height equalizing the lofty Oaks; the 
berries and Leaves of the trees dye a 
yello'w; the Bay trees yield a wax, 
which besides its use in Chirurgery, 
makes candles that in burning gave a 
fragrant smell. The Cedar-berries are 
Infused, and made beer of, by the Ber- 
mudians, they are Carminative, and 
much of the quality of Juniper berries; 
Tew and Box I never saw or heard of 
in this country; there are two sorts of 
Myrtles, different in Leaf and Berry; 
the berry yields wax that makes can- 
dles, the most lasting and of the sweet- 
est smell imaginable. Some mix half 
tallow with this wax, others use it 



without mixture, and these are fit for 
a lady's chamber, and incomparable 
to pass the line withal and other hot 
countries, because they will stand 
when others will melt by the excessive 
heat down in the Binnacles; Ever- 
green Oaks, two sorts, and very plen- 
tiful and growing always in a low 
swampy ground, and amongst Ponds. 
We have a Prim or Privet, which grows 
on the dry, barren, sandy hills, by the 
sound side; it bears a smaller sort 
than in England, and grows in a rotund 
bush, very beautiful. Last 'of bushes 
(except Savine, which grows every- 
where wild) is the famous Yaupon, of 
which I find two sorts if not three. I 
shall speak first of the nature of this 
Plant. It grows the most like box, 
of any Vegetable that I know, being 
very like in leaf, only dented exactly 
like Tea, but the Leaf somewhat flat- 
ter. I cannot say whether it bears any 
flowers, but a berry it does, about the 
bigness of a grain of Pepper, being 
first red, then brown when ripe, which 
is in December. Some of these hushes 
grow to be 12 foot high, others are 
three or four. The Wood thereof is 
brittle as Myrtle, and affords a light 
ash-col'ored bark. There is sometimes 
found of it in swamps and rich low 
grounds, which has the same figured 
leaf, only it is larger and of a deeper 
green. This may be confirmed by the 
richness that attends the Low Grounds 
thus situated. The third sort has the 
same leaf, but never grows a foot 
High, and is found both in rich low 
land, and on the Sand Hills. I don't 
kn)ow that I ever found anj^ seed or 
berries on the dwarfish sort, yet I find 
no difference in taste, when the in- 
fusion is made. Cattle and Sheep de- 
light in this Plant very much, and so 
do the Deer, all which crop it very 
short, and browze thereon whensoever 
they meet with it. I have transplant- 
ed the sandbank and dwarfish Yaupon, 



53 



lawson's history 



and find that the first year the shrubs 
stood at a stand, but the second year 
they throve as well as in their native 
soil. This plant is the Indian Tea, 
used and appraved by all the Savages 
on the doast of Carolina, and from 
them sent to the Westward Indians, 
and sold at a considerable price; all 
which they cure after the same way 
as they do for themselves which is 
thus: They take this Plant (not only 
the leaves but the smaller twigs along 
with them) and bruise it in a mortar 
until it becomes blackish, the leaf be- 
ing wholly defaced. Then they take it 
out and put it into one of their Earth- 
en Pots which is over the Fire until it 
smokes, stirring it all the time until 
it is cured. Others take it after it 
is bruised and put it in a bowl, into 
which they put live coals, lamd cover 
them with the Taupon, till they have 
done smoiaking, often turning them 
over. After all they spread it upon 
their mats, and dry it in the sun and 
keep it for Use. The Spaniards in New 
Spain have this plant very plentiful 
on the coast of Florida, and hold it in 
great esteem. Sometimes they oure it 
as Indians do, or else beat it to a Pow- 
der, so mix it as coffee; yef before they 
drink it they filter the same. They 
prefer it above all Liquids to drink 
with Phyisick, to carry the same safe- 
ly and speedily thro' the passage, for 
which it is admirable, as I myself have 
experienced. 

In the next place I shall speak of 
the Timber that Carolina affords, 
which is as follows: 

Chestnut-Oak; it is a very lofty tree, 
clear of Boughs and Limbs for 50 or GO 
foot. They bear sometimes four or 
five foot through, all clear timber, and 
are the largest Oaks we have, yielding 
the fairest Plank. They grow chiefly 
In lowlands, that is stiff and rich. I 
have seen of them so high that a good 
g-un could not reach a turkey, tho* 



loaded with Swan-Shot. They are call- 
ed chestnuts because of the largeness 
and sweetness of the acorns. 

White, Soaly-Bark Oak. This is used 
as the former in building Sloops and 
Ships. Tho' it bears a large adorn, yet 
it never grows to the Bulk and height 
of the Chestnut Oak. It is so called 
because of a scaly, broken, white-bark, 
that covers this tree, growing on dry 
land. 

We have Red-Oaks; sometimes in 
good land very large and lofty. 'Tis 
a porous wood, and used to rive inta 
rails for Fences. 'Tis not very dur- 
able; yet some use this as well as the 
two former, for pipe and barrel Staves. 
It makes good Clap-Bioards. 

White Oak is free to rive, bears a 
whitish smooth Bark; and' rives very 
well into Clap-Boards. It is accounted 
durable, therefore some use to build 
vessels with it for the sea; it proving 
well and durable. These all give good 
mast for the Swine. 

Bastard-Spanish is an Oak betwixt 
the Spanish and Red-Oak; the chief 
use is for fencing and clap-boards. It 
bears good Acorns. 

The next is Black-Oak, which is 
esteemed a durable wood, under wa- 
ter; but sometimes it is used in House- 
Work. It bears a good mast for Hogs. 

White Iron or Ring oak is so called 
from the durability and lasting quali- 
ty of this Wood. It chiefly grows on 
clean, dry ground, and seldom fails of 
bearing a plentiful crop of acorns. The 
Wood is found to be very durable and 
is esteemd to be the best Oak for 
ship- work that we have in Carolina; 
for tho' live Oak be more lasting, yet it 
seldom allows planks of any consider- 
able length. 

Turkey Oak is so called from a small 
acorn it bears, 'which the wild Turkles 
feed on. 

Live-Oak chiefly grows on dry, sandy, 
KnolLs. This is an evergreen, and the 



OF NORTH CAROIvINA. 



53 



most durable Oak all America affords. 
The shortness of this wood's boll, or 
trunk, makes it unfit for plank to build 
ships withal. There are some few trees 
that would allow a stock of 12 foot, 
but the firmness and great weig-ht 
thereof frightens our sawyers from the 
great fatigue th'at attends the cutting 
of this Timber. A Nail once driven 
therein, 'tis next to an imDossibility to 
draw it out. The linibs thereof are so 
curved that they serve for excellent 
Timbers, Knees, etc., for vessels of any 
sort. The Acorns thereof are as sweet 
as Chestnuts, and the Indians draw an 
Oil from them as sweet as that from 
the Olive, tho' of an Amber colour. 
With these nuts or Acorns, some have 
counterfeited the Cocoa, whereof they 
have made Chocolate, not to be distin- 
guished by a good Palate, Window 
Frames, Mallets, land Pins for Blocks 
are made thereof to an excellent pur- 
pose. I knew two trees of this kind 
among the Indians, which were planted 
■from the Acorn, and grew in the Fresh- 
es, and I never s'aw anything more 
beautiful of that sort. They are of an 
indifferent quick growth, of which 
there are two sorts. The Acorns make 
very fine Pork. 

Willow Oak is a sort of Water Oak. 
It grows in Ponds and Br'anohes, and 
is useful for many things. It is so 
called from the leaf, which very much 
resembles the Willow. 

The Live Oak grows in the Fresh- 
water Ponds and Swamps by the river- 
sides, and in low ground overflown 
with Water, and is perenni'al Oreen. 

Of Ash we have two sorts, agreeing 
nearly with the English in the grain. 
One of our sorts is tough like the Eng- 
lish, but differs something in the leaf, 
and much more in the bark. Neither 
of them bears Keys. The Water-Ash 
is brittle. The bark is food for the 
Beavers. 

There are two sorts of Elm. The 



first grows on our highland and ap- 
proaches our English. The Indians 
take the bark of its root and beat it 
whilst green to a pulp, and then dry 
it in the Chimney, where it becomes of 
a reddish colour. This they use as a 
Sovereign Remedy to heal a cut or 
green Wound, or anything that is not 
corrupted. It is of a Glutinous Quiali- 
ty. The other Elm grows in low 
ground, of whose bark the English and 
Indians make ropes; for as soon as the 
sap rises, it strips off with the great- 
est ease imaginable. It runs in March 
or thereabouts. 

The Tulip-Trees, which are by the 
Planters called Poplars, and are near- 
est approaching that wood in grain, 
grow to a prodigious Bigness, some of 
them having been found one and twen- 
ty foot in Circumference. I have been 
informed of a Tulip Tree that was ten 
foot in Diameter, another wherein a 
lusty man had his bed and household 
furniture, and lived in it until his La- 
bour got him a more Fashionable Man- 
sion. He afterwards became a noted 
man in his 'country for Wealth and 
Conduct. One of these sorts bears a 
white tulip, the other a parti-colour'd 
mottled one. The Wood makes a very 
pretty Wainscot, Shingles for Houses, 
and Planks for several Uses. It is 
reckoned very lasting, especially un- 
derground for mill-work. The Buds, 
made into an ointment, cure Soalds, 
Infiammations and Burns. I saw sev- 
eral bushels thereof. The cattle are 
apt to eat these buds, which give a 
very odd taste to the Milk. 

Beech is here frequent and very 
large. The grain seems exactly the 
same as that in Europe. We make lit- 
tle use thereof, except for fire use. 'Tis 
not a durable timber. It affords a very 
sweet nut, yet the Pork fed thereon 
(tho' sweet) is very oily, >and ought to 
be hardened with Indian Corn, before 



54 



lawson's history 



it is killed. Another sort called Buck- 
Beech is here found. 

Horn-Beam grows in some places 
very plentifully, yet the very plenty of 
the Wood makes it unregarded. 

The virtues of Sassafras are well 
known in Europe. This wood some- 
times grows to be above two feet over, 
land is very durable and lasting, used 
for bowls, timbers, posts and houses, 
and other things that require standing 
in the ground. 'Tis very light. It 
bears a white flower, which is very 
Cleansing to the Blood, being e'aten in 
the Spring with other Sallating. The 
berry when ripe is black; 'tis very oily, 
Carminative, and extremely prevalent 
in Clysters for the Colick. The Bark 
of the Root is a Specifick to those af- 
fected with Gripes. The same in Pow- 
der and a lotion made therof is much 
used by the Savages to mundify old 
Ulcers, and for several other uses; be- 
ing highly esteemed among them. 

Dog-Wood is plentiful on ou.r light 
land; inclining to a rich soil, it flowers 
the first in the Woods; its white blos- 
soms making the Woods very beauti- 
ful. It has a finf^ grain and serves for 
several uses, within doors; but it is 
not durable. The bark of this root in- 
fused is held an infallible Remedy 
against the Worms. 

Laurel, before mentioned; as to its 
bigness and use I have seen Planks 
sawn of this wood, but 'tis not found 
durable in the Weather, yet pretty 
enough for many uses. 

Bay and Laurel generally delight in 
a low, swampy ground. I know no use 
they make of them, but for flre-wood, 
excepting what I spoke of before, 
amongst the evergreens. 

A famous Evergreen I must now 
mention, which was forgotten amongst 
the rest. It is in leaf like a Jessimin, 
but larger, and of a hardier nature. 
This grows up to a large Vine, and 
twists itself around the trees it grows 



near, making a very fine shade. I never 
saw anything of that nature outdo it, 
and if it be 'cut away close to the 
ground, it will presently spring up 
again, it being impossible to destroy 
it, when once it has got a root. 'Tis 
an ornamental Plant, and worth the 
Transplanting. Its seed is a black- 
berry. 

The Scarlet Tl-umpet Vine bears a 
glorious red flower, like a bell or trum- 
pet, and makes a shade inferior to none 
that ever I saw, yet it leaves us when 
the spring oomes and remains naked 
till the next spring. It bears a large 
Cod that holds its seed. 

The Maycock bears a glorious flower, 
and apple of an agreeable sweet, mixed 
with an acid taste. This is also a sum- 
mer vine. 

The Indico grows plentifully in our 
quarters. 

The Bay-Tulip Ttee is a fine ever- 
green, which grows frequently here. 

The Sweet-Gum Tree, so called be- 
cause of the fragrant Gum it yields in 
the Spring Time upon incision of the 
Wark or wood. It cures the Herpes 
and Inflammations, being applied to 
the Morphew and Tettars. 'Tis an ex- 
traordinary Balsam, and of grelat value 
to those who know how to use it. No 
wood has scarce a better grain; where- 
of fine Tables, Drawers, and other 
Furniture might be mlade. Some of it 
is curiously curled. It bears a round 
bur with a sort of prickle, which is 
the seed. 

Of the Black-Gum there grows with 
us two sorts, both fit for Cart-Naves. 
The one bears a black, well tasted 
berry, which the Indians mix with their 
Pulse and Soups, it giving them b pret- 
ty flavour and scarlet colour. The 
Bears crop these trees, for the berries 
which they mightily covet, yet killed 
in that season they eat very unfavor- 
ably; which must be occasioned by this 
fruit, because at other times when they 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



55 



feed on Mast, Bear's-Flesh is very 
well-tasted food. The other gum bears 
a berry in shape like the other, tho' 
bitter and ill tasted. This tree (the In- 
dians report) is never wounded by 
lightning. It has no certain Grain, and 
is almost impossible to spit or rive it. 
The White-Gum, bearing a sort of 
long-bunched flower, is the most curled 
and knotted wood I ever saw, which 
would m.ake curious furniture in case 
it was handled by a good workman. 

The red sort of Cedar is an Ever- 
green, of which Carolina affords Plen- 
ty. That on the Salts, growing gener- 
ally on the Sand-banfes; and thiat in 
the Freshes is found in the Swamps. 
Of this wood Tables, Wainscots, and 
other necess'aries are made, and es- 
teemed for its sweet smell. It is as 
dunable a Wood as any we have, there- 
fore much used in Posts for Houses 
and Sills; likewise to build Sloops, 
Boats, etc., by reason the Worm will 
not touch it for several years. The 
Vessels built thereof are very durable 
and good swimmers. Of this Cedar 
shiploads may be exported. It has 
been heretofore so plentiful in this set- 
tlement that they ha,ve fenced in Plan- 
tations with it, and the Coffins of the 
dead are generally made thereof. 

White-Cedar, so called, because it 
nearly approaches the other Cediar in 
smell, bark and leaf, only this grows 
taller, being as straight as an arrow. 
It is extraordinarily light and free to 
rive. 'Tis good for Yard, Top-Masts, 
Booms and Boltsprits, being very 
tough. The best shingles for houses 
are made of this Wood, it being no 
strtain to the roof and never rots. Good 
pails and other vessels, free from leak- 
age, are likewise miade thereof. The 
Bark of this and the Red Cedar the 
Indians use to make their Cabins of, 
wliich prove firm and resist all weath- 
ers, 
cypress is not an Evergreen with us, 



and is therefore ctetlled the Bald Cy- 
press, because the leaves during the 
winter season turn red, not recovering 
their verdure until the spring. These 
trees are the largest for height and 
thickness that we have in this part of 
the world, some of them holding 36 foot 
in Circumference. Upon incision they 
yield a sweet-smelling grain, tho' not 
in great quantities; and the nuts which 
these trees bear plentifully yield a 
most odoriferous Balsam, that infal- 
libly cures all new and green Wounds, 
which the Inhabitants are well ac- 
quainted withal. Of these great Tfees 
the Pereaugers and Canoes are scooped 
and made; which sort of Vessels are 
chiefly to pass over the Rivers, Creeks 
and Bays, and to transport Goods and 
Lumber from one river to another 
with. Some are so large as to carry 
30 barrels, tho' of one entire piece of 
Timber. Others that lare split down 
the bottom and a piece added thereto 
will carry eighty or an hundred. Sev- 
eral have gone out of our inlets on the 
Ocean to Virginia, laden with Pork and 
other Produce of the Country. Of 
these trees curious boats for pleasure 
may he made, and other necessary 
Craft. Some years ago a foolish man 
in Albemarle and his son had got one 
of these Canoes decked. She held as 
I take it 15 barrels. He brought her 
to the collectors to be cleared for Bar- 
bados; but the oflBcer took him for a 
man that had lost his senses, and ar- 
gued the danger and impossibility of 
performing such a voyage in a hollow 
tree; but the fellow would hearken to 
no advice of that kind until the gen- 
tleman told him if he did not value 
his own life, he valued his reputation 
and honesty, and so flatly refused 
clearing him; upon which the canoe 
was sold, and I think remains in being 
still. This wood is very lasting and 
free from the rot. A Canoe of it will 
outlast four boats, and seldom wants 



56 



la.wson's history 



repair. They say a chest made of this 
wood will suffer no Moth, or Vermine 
to abide therein. 

The Locust, for its enduring the 
weather, is chosen for all sorts of 
work that are exposed to it. It bears 
la leaf nearest the Liquorice Plant. 'Tis 
a pretty tall tree. Of this the Indians 
make their choicest bows, it being very 
tough and flexible. We have little or 
none of this wood in Pamticough. 

The Honey-Tree bears as great a re- 
semblance to the Locust, as a Shallot 
does to an Onion. It is of that species, 
but more prickly. They bear a Cod, 
one side whereof contains the Seed; 
the other the Honey. They will bear 
in five years from the Kernel. Thev 
were first brought (by the Indian Trad- 
ers) and propagiated by their seed, at 
the Apamatricks in Virginia. Dast 
year I planted the seed, tand had them 
sprung up before I came from thence, 
which was in August. Of the Honey 
very good Metheglin is made, there be- 
ing orchards planted in Virginia for 
that intent. 

The Sorrel, or Sowr-Wood Tree, is so 
called because the Leaves taste like 
Sorrel. Some are about a foot or ten 
inches in diameter. I am unacquaint- 
ed with its Vertues at present. 

Of pines there are in Carolina at 
least four sorts. The Pitch Pine grow- 
ing to a great Bigness, most common- 
ly Ihas but a short Leaf. Its Wood 
being replete with abundance of Bi- 
tumen, is so durable that it seems to 
suffer no deday, tho' exposed to all 
weathers, for many ages; and is used 
in several domestic and plantation 
uses. This tree affords the four great 
necessaries, Pitch, Tar, Rozin and Tur- 
pentine; which two last are extnacted 
by tapping and the heat of the Sun, 
the other two by the heat of the Fire. 
The white and yellow pines are 
sawed into Planks for several uses. 
They make Masts, Yards, and a great 



many other necessaries therewith, the 
Pine being the most useful tree in the 
woods. 

The Almond Pine serves for Masts 
very well. As for the Dwarf-Pine, it is 
for shew alone, being an evergreen, as 
they all are. 

The Hiccory is of the Walnut kind 
and bears a nut, as they do, of w^hich 
there are some three sorts. The first 
is that which we caill the common 
White Hiccory. It is not a durable 
wood for if cut down and exposed to 
the weather it will be quite rotten, and 
spoiled in three years; as will likewise 
the Beech of this country. Hiccory 
nuts have very hard shells, but excel- 
lent sweet kernels, with which, in a 
plentiful year the old Hogs that can 
crack them, fatten themselves and 
make excellent Pork. These Nuts are 
gotten in great quantities by the Sav- 
ages, iand laid up for stores, of wlhich 
they make several dishes and Ban- 
quets. One of these I cannot forebear 
mentioning; it is this; they take these 
Nuts and break them very small be- 
twixt two stones, till the shells and 
kernels are indifferent small; and this 
powder you are presented withal in 
their Cabins, in little Wooden dishes; 
The kernel dissolves in your Mouth-and 
the shell you spit out. This tastes as 
well as any Almond. Another dish is 
the soup which they make of these 
Nuts, beaten and put in Venison broth, 
which dissolves the nut, and. thickens, 
whilst the shell precipitates, and re- 
mains at the bottom. This broth 
tastes very rich. There is another sort 
which we call red Hiccory, the heart 
thereof being very red, firm and du- 
rable; of which Walking- Sticks, Mor- 
tars, Pestils, and several other fine 
Turnery-wares are made. The third is 
called the Flying-Bark Hiccory, from 
its brittle and S'caly Bark. It bears a 
Nut with a bitter Kernel, and soft 
shell like a French Walnut, Of this 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



57 



wood, Ooggs for Mills are made, etc. 
The leaves smell very fragrant. 

The Walnut tree of America is called 
Black Walnut. I suppose that name 
was at first to distinguish it from the 
hiccories, it having a blacker bark. 
This tree grows in a good land to a 
prodigious bigness. The Wood is very 
firm and durable, of which tables and 
chests of drawers are made, land prove 
very well. Some of this is very knot- 
ty, which would make the best returns 
for England, tho' the masters of ves- 
sels refuse it, not understanding its 
goodness. 'Tis a very good and dura- 
ble wood, to bottom vessels for the 
Sea withal; and they say that it is 
never eaten by the Worm. The Nuts 
Wave a large Kernel which is very oily, 
except lain by a long time to mellow. 
The shell is very thick, as all the 
Native Nuts of America are. When it 
has its yellow outward coat on it looks 
and smells much like a lemon. 

The Maple, of which we have two 
sorts, is used to make Trenchers, 
Spinning-wheels, etc., withal. 

Chinkapin is a sort of Chestnut 
w'hose nuts are commonly very plenti- 
ful, insomudh that the Hogs get fat 
with them. They are rounder and 
sma>ller than a chestnutj but much 
sweeter. The wiood is much of the 
nature of Chestnut, havlmg a leaf and 
grain almost like it. It is used to tim- 
ber Boats, Shallops, etc. and makes 
•anything that is to endure the 
weather. This and the Hiccory are 
very touch Rods used to whip Horses 
withal; yet their Wood in substance is 
very brittle. This tree the Vine much 
deligihts to twist about. It's good fire- 
wood, but very sparkling, as Sassa- 
fras. 

The Birch grows on the Banks of our 
Rivers, very high up. I never saw a 
Tree on the Salts. It differs some- 
thing, in Bark, from the European 
Birch. Its Buds in April are eaten by 



the Parrakeetes, which resort, from all 
Parts, at that Season, to feed thereon. 
Where this wood grows, we are not 
yet seated, and as to the Wine or oth- 
er Profits it would yield, we are, at 
present. Strangers to. 

The Willow, here, likewise differs 
both in Bark and Leaf. It is frequent- 
ly found on the Banks of fresh Water, 
as the Birch is. 

The Sycamore, in these Parts, gro'vs 
in a low, swampy Land, by River- 
sides. Its Bark is quite different from 
the English, and the most beautiful I 
ever saw, being mottled and clowded 
with several colours, as white, blue, 
etc. It has no Keys, but a Bur like the 
Sweet-Gum. Its Uses I am ignorant 
of. 

I never saw any Aspin, but in Rap- 
ahanock-River, from where I brought 
one (that was presented me there as a 
great Present), but it died by the way. 
Of Holly we have two sorts; one hav- 
ing a large Leaf, the other a smaller. 
They grow very thick in our low 
woods. Many of them are very 
straight, and two foot diameter. They 
make good Trenches, and other Tlir- 
nery ware. 

The Red-Bud Tree bears a purple 
Lark-Heel, and is the best sallad of 
liny Flower I ever saw. It is ripe in 
April and May. They grow on trees 
generally small, but some are a foot 
Diameter. 

Peliletory grows on the banks and isl- 
ands. It is used to cure the tooth-ache 
by putting a piece of tihe bark in the 
Mouth, which being very hot draws a 
Rhume from the Mouth and causes 
much spittle.. The Indians use it to 
maki- their Composition, which they 
give to their young men 'and Bovs 
wlhen they are Husquenaw'd, of which 
you shall hear further when I come to 
treat of the customs, etc. of that peo- 
ple. 
Arrow-Wood growing on the Banks 



58 



lawson's history 



is used by the Indians, for arrows and 
gun-sticks. It grows as straight as if 
planed, and is ^of ^all sizes. "Tis as tough 
and pliable as the smallest canes. 

The Chestnut Tree of Carolina grows 
up towards the hilly Part thereof, is 
a very large and durable wood, and lit 
for houseframes, Palisado's, Sills, and 
many other uses. The nut is sm'aller 
than thxjse from Portugal, but sweeter. 

This is no tree but called the Oak- 
Vine, by reason it betars a sort of Bur 
as the Oak does, and generally runs 
up those trees. It's so porous, that 
you suck liquors tho' a length of two 
foot. 

Prickly- Ash grows up like a Pole; of 
Which the Indians and English make 
poles, to set their Oanoes alonig m 
Shoal water. Its very light land full of 
thorns or Prickles, bearing berries in 
large clusters, of a purple colour, not 
much unlike the alder. The root of this 
tree is Cathartick and Emeti-ck, used 
in Cachexies. 

The Poisin vine is so called because 
it colours the hands of those who han- 
dle it. What the effects of it miav be 
I cannot relate; neither do I believe 
that any has made an experience 
thereof. The juice of this will stain 
Linnen never to wash out. It marks a 
blackish blue colour, whidh is done 
only by breaking a bit of the Vine off, 
and writing what you please there- 
with. I have thought that the East 
India Natives set their colours by 
some such means into their Callicoes. 
It runs up any tree it meets witlhal and 
clasps around it. The leaves are like 
Hemlock and fall off in winter. 

Of Canes and Reeds we have many 
sorts. The hollow Reed, or Cane, such 
as Angling rods are made of, and 
Weavers use, we have great plenty of 
it, tho' none to the Northward of 
James River in Virginia. They always 
grow in Branches and low ground. 
Their leaves endure the Winter, in 



whidh season our cattle eat then 
greedily. We have them towards the 
Heads of our Rivers, so large that one 
joint will hold above a pint of liquor. 

The small Blamboo is next, which is 
a certain vine like the rest of these 
species, growing in low land. They 
seldom with us grow larger than a 
man's little finger, and are very tough. 
Their root is a round ball which the 
Indians boil as we do garden roots, 
iand eat them. When these roots have 
been some time out of the ground, they 
become hard and make good heads to 
the Canes, on whidh several oretty 
Figures may be cut. There are several 
others of this kind, not thoroug-hly dis- 
covered. 

That Palmeto grows with us, whicjh 
we call the dwarfish sort; but the Pal- 
meto tree I have not met withlal in 
Carolina, of which you have a descrip- 
tion elsewhere. We shall next treat of 
the spontaneous fruits of this country, 
and then proceed to those that have 
been transplanted from Europe and 
other narts. 

Among the natural fruits the Vine 
first takes place, of wlhich I find six 
sorts very well known. The first is the 
black bunch grapes, which yield a 
crimson juice, these grow common and 
bear plentifully. They are of a good 
relish tho' not large, yet well knit in 
the clusters. They have a thickish skin 
and large etone, which makes them not 
yield m'uch juice. There is another sort 
of black grape like the former, in all 
respects save that their juice is of a 
light flesh colour, inclining to a white. 
I once saw a spontaneous white grrape 
bunch in North Carolina; but the Cat- 
tle browzing on the sprouts thereof tn 
the spring it died. Of those which we 
dall Fox Grapes, we have four sorts; 
two whereof are called Summer Grapes 
because ripe in July, the other two 
Winter Fruit because not ripe until 
October or September. The summer 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



59 



Fox Grapes grow not in clusters, or in 
great bunches, but are about five or 
six in a bunch, about the bigness of a 
damson, or larger. They alwlays grow- 
in Swamps, and low moist Lands, run- 
ning sometimes very high and being 
shady and therefore propier for 
ar'bours. They afford the Largest Leaf 
I ever saw to my remembrance, the 
back of which is of a white horseflesh 
colour. This fruit always ripens in 
the shade. I have transplanted them 
into my orclhard, and find they thrive 
well, if matured. A neighbour of mine 
has done the same; mine were by slips, 
his from the roots, which thrive to ad- 
miratiom, and bear fruit, tho' not so 
juicy as the European grape, but of a 
glutinous nature. However it is pleas- 
ant enough to eat. 

The other winter Fox Grapes are 
much of the same bigness. These re- 
fuse no ground, swampy or dry; but 
grow plentifully on the sand hills 
along the coast, and elsewhere, and are 
great Bearers. I have seen near 12 
bushels upon one vine of the black 
sort. Some of these when thoroughly 
ripe have a very pretty vimous taste 
and eat very well yet are glutinous. 
The wihite sort are clear and transpar- 
ent, and indifferent small stones. Being 
removed by the slip or root they thrive 
well in our giardens and make pleas- 
ant shades. 

Persimmon is a tree that agrees with 
all Lands and soils. Their fruit when 
ripe is nearest our Medlar; if eaten be- 
fore draws your mouth up like a purse, 
being the greatest Astringent I ever 
met withal, therefore very useful in 
some cases. The fruit if ripe, will pres- 
ently cleanse a foul wound, but causes 
pain. The fruit is rotten when ripe, 
and commonly contains four flat ker- 
nels, called stones, which is the seed. 
'Tie said the Cortex Peruvianus comes 
.from a Persimmon Tree, that grows in 
New Spain. I have tried t'he dying of 



this bark to imitate it, which it does 
tolerably well, and agrees therewith, it 
is binding enough to work the siame ef- 
fect. The tree in extraordinary Land 
comes sometimes to two foot Diameter, 
though not often. There are two sorts 
of this fruit; one ripe in the summer, 
the other when the frost visits us. 

We have three sorts of Mulberries 
besides the different bigness of some 
trees fruit. Tbe first is the common 
red Mulberry, whose fruit is the earli- 
est we have (except the Strawberries) 
and very sweet. These trees make a 
very fine shade, to sit under in sum- 
mer time. They are found wild in great 
quantities, whenever the land is light 
and rich, yet their fruit is much bet- 
ter when they stand open. They are 
used instead of Raisins and Currants, 
and make several pretty Kickshaws. 
They yield a transptarent crimson li- 
quor, which would make good wine; 
but few peoples inclination in this 
country tend this way. The others are 
a smooth-leaved mulberry, fit for the 
Silkworm. One bears a white fruit 
which is common, the other bears a 
small red berry, very sweet. They 
would persuade me there that the 
black mul'berry with the silk worm 
smooth leiaf was a white mulberry, and 
changed its fruit. Tlie wood hereof is 
very durable, and where the Indians 
cannot get Locust, they make use of 
this to make their bows. This tree 
grows extraordinarily round and pleas- 
ant to the eye. 

The Hiccory, Walnut, Chinkapin, 
and Chestnut with their fruits, we 
have mentioned before. 

The Hazle nut grows plentifully in 
some places of the country, espiecially 
towards the mountains; but ours are 
not so good as the English nuts, hav- 
ing a much thicker she'll, like all the 
fruits of America that ever I met 
withal, which in hardness exceed those 
of Europe. 



6o 



i^awson's history 



The Cherries of the Woods grow to 
be verty large trees. One sort which is 
rarely found is red and not much un- 
like the Cornel-berry. But the com- 
mon cherry grows high, and in 
bunches like English currants, but 
much larger. They are of a bitterish- 
sweet relish, and are equally valuable 
with our small red Cherries for an in- 
fusion in Spirits. They yield a crim- 
son liquor and are great belarers. 

Our Raspberries are of a purple col- 
our and agreea;ble relish, almost like 
the English; but I reckon them not 
quite BO rich.. When once planted 'tis 
hard to root them out. They run wild 
all over the country, and will bear the 
same year you transplant them, as 1 
have found by experience. 

The Hurts, of Huckleberries or Blues 
of this country, are four sorts which 
we are all well acquainted withal; but 
more species of this sort, and all 
others. Time and Enquiry must dis- 
cover. The first sort is the same Blue 
of Bilberry that grows plentifully in 
the north of England, and in other 
places commonly on your Helaths, 
Co'mmons and Woods, where Braken 
or Pern grows. 

The second sort grows on a small 
bush in our Savannas, and Meads and 
in the Meadows. They are larger than 
the common fruit and have lareer 
seed. 

The third grows on a single stem of 
a stick that grows in low rich land, 
and on the banks of rivers. They grow 
three or four foot high, and are very 
pleasant like the first sort but larger. 

The fourth sort growis upon trees; 
some 10 and 12 foot high, and about the 
thickness of a mlan's arm; these are 
found in the runs and low grounds and 
are very pleasant and bear wonderful- 
ly. The English sometimes dry them 
in the Sun, and keep them to use in 
the winter instead of currants. The In- 
dians get many bushels and dry them 



on mats, whereof they make Plum- 
Bread, and many other Eatables. They 
are good in Tarts or infused in Liquors. 

In the same ground commonly grows 
the Piemento, or All-spice tree, whose 
berries differ in shape from those of 
the West Indies, being Taper or 
Oonick, yet not inferior to any of that 
sort. This tree grows much like the 
Hurts, and is of the same bigness. I 
have known it transplanted to high 
Land, where it thrives. 

Our Dew-berries are very good, but 
the Black-berries are bitterish, and 
not so palatable as in England. 

The Sugar-Tree ought to have taken 
place before. It is found in no other 
parts of Carolina or America that I 
ever learnt, but in places that are 
near the mountains. It's most like one 
sort of Maple of any Tree and may be 
ranked amongst that kind. This Tree, 
which I am told is of a very tedious 
growth, is found very plentiful to- 
wards the heads of some of our rivers. 
The Indians tap it, and make gourds 
to receive the Liquor, which operation 
is done at distinct and proper times, 
when it best yields its juice, of which 
when the Indians have gotten enough 
they carry it home and boil it to a just 
consistence of Sugar, which grains of 
itself, and serves for the same uses as 
other sugar does. 

The Papau is not a large tree; I 
think I never saw one a foot through; 
but has the broadest leaf or any tree 
in the woods and bears an apple about 
the bigness of la hen's egg, yellow, soft 
and as sweet as anything can well be. 
They make rare Puddings of this fruit. 
The Apple contains large stones. 

The wild Fig grows in Virginia upi in 
the Mountains, as I am informed by a 
gentleman of my acquaintance, who is 
a person of Credit and a great Travel- 
ler in America. I shall be glad to have 
an opportunity to make Tryal what 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



6l 



improvement might be made of this 
wild fru'it. 

The wild Plums of Americia are of 
several sorts. Those which I can give 
an account of from my own knowl- 
edge, I will and leave the others till a 
farther discovery. The most frequent is 
that which we call the common Indian 
Plum, of which there are two sorts if 
not more. One of these is ripe much 
sooner than the other, and differs in 
the Bark; one of the Barks being very 
soaly like our American Birch. These 
trees when in blossom smell as sweet 
as any Jessimin, and look as white as 
a sheet, being something prickly. You 
may make it grow to what shape you 
please. They are very ornamental 
around a house and miake a wonderful 
shew at a distance, in the spring:, be- 
cause of their livery. Their fruit is 
red and very palatable to the sick. 
They are of a quick growtii and will 
bear from the stone in five yeiars on 
their Stock. The English large, black 
plum thrives well, as does the cherry, 
being grafted thereon. 

The American Damsons are both 
black and white, and about the bigness 
of a European Damson. They grow 
anywhere if planted from the stone or 
slip; bear a white blossom and are a 
good fruit. They are found on the 
sand-banks alonig the coast of Ameri- 
ca. I have planted several in my 
orchard, that came from the Stone, 
which thrive well amongst the rest of 
my Trees, but they never grow to the 
bigness of the other trees now spoken 
of. These are plentiful Bearers. 

There is a third sort of Plum about 
the bigness of a Damson. The tree is 
taller, seldom, exceeding 10 inches in 
thickness. The plum seems to taste 
physically, yet I never found any op- 
eration it had. except to mlake their 
lips sore that eat them.. The Wood 
is something porous, but exceeds any 
box for a beautiful yellow. 



There is a very pretty bushy tree 
a;bout seven or eight Foot high, very 
spreading, which bears a winter fruit, 
that is ripe in October. They call 'em 
currants, but they are nearer a Hurt. 
I have eaten very pretty tarts made 
thereof. They dry them instead of 
Currants. The Bush Is very beauti- 
ful. 

The Bermudas Currants grow in the 
Woods on a bush much like the Euro- 
pean Currant. Some people eat them 
very much; but for my part I clan see 
nothing inviting in them, and reckon 
them a very indifferent fruit. 

We have another Currant which 
grows on the Banks of Rivers, or 
where only Clay has been thrown up. 
This frudt is red and gone almost as 
soon as come. They are a pretty fruit 
whilst they last and the tree (for 'tis 
not a bush) they grow upon is a very 
pleasant Vegetable. 

The Haw-thorn grows plentifully in 
some parts of this country. The Haws 
are quite different from those in Eng- 
land, being four times as big, and of a 
pleasant, agreeable taste. We make no 
use of this plant nor of any other for 
Hedges because timber is so plentiful 
at present. 

In my judgment the Honey Locust 
would be the fittest for Hedges; be- 
cause it is very apt to shoot forth 
many sprouts and Succours from the 
Roots; besides it is of a quick growth, 
and very Prickly. 

The Black-Haw grows on a slender 
Tree, about the height of a Quince 
tree, or something higher and bears 
the Black-Haw, which people eat and 
the birds covet after. What Vertues 
the fruit or wood is of, I cannot re- 
solve you at present. 

Thus I have given an account of all 
the spontaneous fruits of Carolina, 
that have come to my knowledge, ex- 
cepting Services, which I have seen in 
the Indians' hands and eat of them. 



6a 



lawson's history 



but never saw nor knew how they 
grew. There mlay very well be expect- 
ed a great many more fruits which are 
the natural product of this Country, 
when we consider the fruitfulness of 
the soil and climate, and account for 
the vast tract of Land (a great part 
of wlhich is not yet found out) accord- 
ing to the product of that which is al- 
ready discovered, which, (as I once 
hinted before) is not as yet arrived to 
our knowledge, we having very little 
or no correspondence amongst the 
mountainous piarts of this province, 
and towards the country of Missis- 
sippi, all which we have strange ac- 
counts of, (and some with respect to 
the Large and Noble Fruits and sev- 
eral other ornaments and blessings of 
nature which Mississippi possesses; 
more to be coveted than any of those 
which we enjoy to the eastward of the 
Mountains; Yet when I came to dis- 
course with some of the idolizers of 
that country, I found it to be rather 
Novelty than Truth land Reality, that 
induced those persons to allow it such 
Excellencies above others. It may be 
a brave and fertile country, as I be- 
lieve it is, but I cannot be persuaded 
that it can be near so advantageous to 
us as ours, wlhich is much better situ- 
ated for trade, being faced all along 
■with the Ocean, as the English Ameri- 
-ca is, when the other is only a direct 
river, in the midst of a Wild Unknown 
Land, the greatest part of whose pro- 
duct must be fetched or brought a 
great way before it dan come to Mar- 
ket. Moreover such great Rivers com- 
monly allow of more Princes Terri- 
tories than one, and thus nothing but 
War and Contention accompanies the 
inhabitants thereof. 

But not to trouble my reader with 
any more of this, we will proceed in 
the next place to shew what Exotick 



Fruits we have, that thrive well in 
Carolina; and what others it may rea- 
sonably be supposed would do well 
there, were they brought thither and 
planted. In pursuance of which I will 
set down a Catalogue of what Fruits 
we have, I mean species; For should 
I pretend to give a regular name to 
every one, it's neither possible for me 
to do it, nor for any one to understand 
it when done; if we consider that the 
chiefest part of our fruit comes from 
the kernel and some others froim the 
Succours of sprouts of the tree. First 
we will begin with apples, which are 
the Golden Russet, Pearmain, winter 
and summer; Harvey-Apple, I cannot 
tell whether the same in England; 
Winter Queening, Leather Coat, Junit- 
ing, Codlin, Redstreak, Longstalk, La- 
dyflnger. The G-olden Russet thrives 
well. The Pearmains, of both sorts are 
apt to speck, and rot on the trees; and 
the trees are damaged and cut off by 
the Worm, which breeds in the Forks 
and other Parts thereof, and often 
makes a clrcumposition by destroying 
the bark around the branches until it 
dies. Harvey Apple; that which we 
call so is esteemed very good for mak- 
ing cider of. Winster Queening is a 
durable apple and makes good cider. 
Leather Coats, both apple and tree 
stand well. The Juniting is early ripe, 
and soon gone in these wlarm coun- 
tries. Codlin; no better and fairer fruit 
in the world; yet the tree suffers the 
same disteimper, as the Pearmains, or 
rather worse; the trees always dying 
before they come to their growth. The 
Red-streak thrives very well. Long- 
stalk is a large apple, with a lone 
stalk and makes good summer older. 

We beat the first of our Codlin cider 
against reaping our wheat, which is 
from the 10th of June to the five and 
twentieth. 



OF NORTH CAROI^INA. 



63 



Lady-Fkiger, the Long Apple, 
some called Rope-Apples, which are 
small apples hanging like Ropes of 
Onions; Flatterings, Grigsons, Cheese- 
Apples, and a great number of Names, 
given according to every one's Direc- 
tion. 

The Warden-Pear here proves a good 
eating Pear; and is not so long ripen- 
i<ng as in England. 

Katharine excellent. 

Sugar-pear. 

And several others without Name, 
The Bergamot we have not, nor either 
of the Bonne Chretiennes, though I 
hear, they are all three in Virginia. 
These sorts of Pears which we have, 
are as well relisht, as ever I eat any 
where, but that Fruit is of very short 
Continuance with us, for they are gone 
almost as soon as ripe. 

I am not a Judge of the different 
sorts of Quinces, which they call Bruns- 
wick, Portugal and Barbary. But as to 
the Fruit, in general, I believe no Place 
has fairer and better relisht. They are 
very pleasant eaten raw. Of this Fruit 
they make a Wine, or Lriquor, which 
they call Quince-Drink, and which I 
approve of beyond any Drink which 
that Country affords, though a great 
deal of Cider and some Perry is there 
made. The Quince-Drink most com- 
monly purges those that first drink it, 
and cleanses the Body very well. The 
Argument of the Physicians, that they 
bind People, is hereby contradicted, un- 
less we allow the Quinces to differ in 
the two Countries. The least Slip of 
this Tree stuck in the Ground, comes to 
bear in three years. 

All peaches, with us, are standing; 
neither have we any Wall-Fruit in Car- 
olina; for we have He«it enough, and 
therefore do not require it. We have 
a great many sorts of this Fruit, which 
all thrive to Admiration, Peach-Trees 
coming to perfection (with us) as easily 
as the Weeds. A Peach falling on the 



Ground, brings a Peach-Tree that shall 
bear in three years or sometimes 
sooner. Eating Peaches in our Orchards 
makes them come up so thick from the 
Kernel, that we are forced to take a 
great deal of Care to weed them out, 
otherwise they make our Land a Wil- 
derness of Peach-Trees. They generally 
bear so full, that they break great part 
of their Limbs down. We have like- 
wise very fair Nectarines, especially 
the red, that clings to the Stone, the 
other yellow Fruit, that leaves the 
Stone; of the last, I have a Tree, that, 
most Years, brings me fifteen or twenty 
Bushels. I see no foreign Fruit like 
this, for thriving in all sorts of Land, 
bearing its Fruit to Admiration. I want 
to be satisfied about one sort of this 
Fruit, which the Indians claim as their 
own, and affirm, they had it growing 
amongst them, before any Europeans 
came to America. The Fruit I will de- 
scribe, as exactly as I can. The Tree 
grows very large, most commonly as 
big as a handsome Apple-Tree; the 
Flowers are of a reddish, murrey 
Colour; the Fruit is rather more downy, 
than the Yellow Peach, and commonly 
very large and soft, being very full of 
Juice. They part ifreely from the 
Stone, and the Stone is much thicker 
than all the Peach Stones we have, 
which seem to me that it is a Spon- 
toneous Fruit of America, yet in those 
parts of America that we inhabit, I 
never could hear that any Peach-Tl-ees 
were ever found growing in the 
Woods; neither have the foreign In- 
dians, that live remote from the Eng- 
lish, any other sort. And those living 
amongst us have a hundred of this sort 
for one other; they are a hardly Fruit, 
and are seldom daznaged by the North- 
East Blasts, as others are. Of this sort 
we make "Vinegar; wherefore we call 
them Vinegar-Peaches, and sometimes 
Indian-Peaches. 
This Tree grows to a vast Bigness, 



64 



lawson's history 



exceeding most Apple-Trees. They bear 
well, tho' sometimes an early Spring 
comes on in February, and perhaps, 
when the Tree is fully blown the 
'Cloudy North-East-Winds which at- 
tend the end of, that Month, or the be- 
ginning of March, destroy most of the 
Fruit. The biggest Apricock-Tree I ever 
saw, as they told me, was grafted on a 
Peach-Stock, in the Ground. I know 
of no other sort with us, than the Com- 
mon. We generally raise this Fruit 
from the Stone, which never fails to 
bring the same Fruit. Likewise our 
Peach-Stones effect the same, without 
so much as once missing, to produce the 
same sort that the Stone came from. 

Damson, Damazeen, and a large 
round black Plum, are all I have met 
withal in Carolina. They thrive well 
enough; the last to Admiration, and 
becomes a very large Tree, if in stiff 
Ground; otherwise they will not do 
well. 

Of Figs we have two sorts; One is the 
low Bush-Fig, which bears a large 
Fruit. If the Winter happens to have 
much Frost, the tops thereof die, and 
in the Spring sprout again, and bear 
two or three good Crops. 

The Tree-Fig is a lesser Fig, though 
very sweet. The Tree grows to a large 
Body and Shade, and generally brings 
a good Burden; especially if in light 
Land. This Tree thrives nowhere bet- 
ter, than on the Sand-Banks by the 
Sea. 

We have the common red and black 
Cherry, which bear well. I never sav/ 
any grafted in this Country, the com- 
mon excepted, which was grafted on an 
Indian Plum-stock, and bore well. This 
is a good way, because our common 
Cherry-Trees are very apt to put Scions 
all around the Tree, for a great Dis- 
tance, which must needs be prejudicial 
to the Ttee and Fruit. Not only our 
Cherries are apt to do so, but our Ap- 
ples and most other Fruit-Trees, which 



may chiefly be imputed to the negli- 
gence and Unskillfulness of the Garden- 
er. Our Cherries are ripe a month 
sooner than in Virginia. 

Gooseberries I have seen of the 
smaller sort, but find they do not do so 
well as in England, and to the North- 
ward. Want of Dressing may be some 
reason for this. 

Currants, White, Red and Black, 
thrive here, as well as any where. 

Raspberries, the red and white, I 
never saw any trial made of. But there 
is no doubt of their thriving to Ad- 
miration, since those of the Country do 
so well. 

The Mulberries are spontaneous. We 
have no others, than what I have al- 
ready mentioned in the class of Natural 
Fruits of Carolina. 

Barberry red, with Stones, and with- 
out Stones, grow here. 

Strawberries, not Foreign, but those 
of the Country, grow here in great 
plenty. Last April I planted a Bed of 
two hundred feet in Length, which 
bore the same year. 

Medlars we have none. 

All sorts of Walnuts from England, 
France and Maderas, thrive well from 
the Nut. 

No Filberts, but Hazel-Nuts; the Fil- 
bert-Nut planted, becomes a Hazel-Nut 
and no better. 

As for that noble vegetable the Vine, 
without doubt, it may (in this Country) 
be improved, and brought to the same 
Perfection, as it is in this Day, in the 
same Latitude in Europe, since the 
Chiefest part of this Country is a deep, 
rich, black Mould, which is up towards 
the Freshes and Heads of our Rivers, 
very rich and mixed with Flint, 
Pebbles, and other Stones. And this 
sort of Soil is approv'd (by all Garden- 
ers and Vigneroons) as a proper Earth, 
in which the Grape chiefly delights; and 
seems to give a farther Confirmation 
hereof, is, that the largest Vines, that 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



65 



were ever discovered to grow wild, are 
found in those parts, sometimes in such 
Plenty, and are so interwoven with one 
another, that 'tis impossible to pass 
through them. Moreover in these 
Freshes, towards the Hills, the vines 
are about Ave times bigger than those 
gererally with us, who are seated in 
the Front-Parts of this Country, ad- 
joining to the Salts. Of the Wild Vines, 
which are most of them great Bearers, 
some Wine has been made, which I 
drank of. It was very strong and well 
relisht; but what detains them all from 
offering at great quantities, they add, is 
that this Grape has a large Stone, and 
a thick Skin, and consequently yields 
but a small quantity of Wine. Some 
Essays of this Nature have been made 
by that Honourable Knight, S'r Nath- 
anael Johnson, in South Carolina, who, 
as I am informed, has rejected all 
Exotick Vines, and makes his Wine 
from the natural black Grape of Caro- 
lina, by grafting it upon its own Stock. 
What improvement this may arrive to, 
I cannot tell; but in other Species, I 
own Grafting and Inbudding yields 
speedy Fruit, tho' I never found that 
it made them better. 

New planted Colonies are generally 
attended with a Force and Necessity of 
Planting the known and approved 
Staple and Product of the Country, as 
well as all the Provisions their Fam- 
ilies spend. Therefore we can enter- 
tain but small hopes of the Improve- 
ment of the Vine, till some skillful in 
dressing Vines shall appear amongst us, 
and go about it, with a Resolution, that 
Ordering the Vineyard shall be one- 
half of their Employment. If this be 
begun and carried on, with that Assidu- 
ity and Resolution which it requires, 
then we may reasonably hope to see 
this a Wine-Country; for then when It 
becomes a general Undertaking, every 
one will be capable to add something 
to the common Stock, of that which he 



has gained by his own experience. This 
way would soon make the Burden light, 
and a great many shorter and exacter 
Curiosities, and real Truths would be 
found out in a short time. The trim- 
ming of Vines as they do in France, 
that is, to a Stump, must either be not 
followed, or we are sensible of the exact 
time, when they ought to be pruned; for 
Experience has taught us, that the 
European Grape, suffer'd to run and ex- 
pand itself at large, has been found to 
bear as well in America, as it does in 
Europe; when at the some time the 
same sort of Vine trimm'd to a Stump 
as before Spoken of has borne a poor 
Crop for one Year or two; and by its 
spilling after cutting, emaciated, and 
in three or four years died. This ex- 
periment I believe has never failed; for 
I have trimm'd the Natural the French 
way, which has been attended, at 
last, with the same Pate. Wherefore it 
seems most expedient, to leave the 
Vines more Branches here than in 
Europe, or let them run up Trees, as 
some do, in Lombardy, upon EJms. 
The Mulberries and Chinkapin are 
tough, and trimm'd to what you please, 
therefore fit supporters of the Vine. 
Gelding and plucking the Leaves, to 
hasten the ripening of this Fruit, may 
not be unnecessary, yet we see the nat- 
ural wild Grape generally ripens in the 
Shade. Nature in this and many other?, 
may prove a sure Guide. The twisting 
of the Stems to make the Grapes ripe 
together, loses no Juice and may be 
beneficial, if done in Season. A very 
ingenious French Gentleman, and an- 
other from Switzerland, with whom I 
frequently converse, exclaim against 
that strict cutting of Vines, the gener- 
ally approved Method of France and 
Germany, and say that they were both 
out in their Judgment, till of late. Ex- 
perience has taught them otherwise. 
Moreover the French in North Carolina 
assure me, that if we should trim our 



66 



lawson's iiistoky 



Ai)|p|<' and olluw Fiiilt-Trees an they do 
ill IOui(ip(!, wf Hliould Hpoll them. Ah for 
AppIoH and I'lumB, I have found by Kx- 
pericnce, what they afllrm to be true. 
The French from the Mannakin Town 
on the FreeheB of Jamea Jllver Jn Vir- 
ginia had, for the most part, removed 
themBelvea to Carolina, to live there, 
before 1 came away; and the rent were 
fiillowing as their Mlnlsler (Monsieur 
riillip de Itlxbourg) told me, who was 
at J'.ath-Town, when 1 took my leave of 
iny Friends, lie assur'd me, that their 
Intent was to propagate Vines, as far 
as their present Circumstances would 
I)erttiit; provided they could get any 
Slips of Vines, that would do. At the 
same time 1 had gotten some Grape- 
Seed, which was of the .Jesuits white 
Crape, from Madera. The Seed came 
up very plentifully, and, I hope, will not 
degenerate, which if it happens not to 
do, the Seed may prove the beist way 
to raise a Vineyard, as certainly U is 
most easy for Transportation. Yet I 
reckon we should have our Seed frotn 
a Country, where the Grape arrives to 
the utmost perfection of ripeness. These 
French Kefugees have had small En- 
couragement in Virginia, because at 
their (Irst coming over, they look their 
Measures of Living from lO'urope; which 
was all wrong; for the small Qujintilles 
of ten, flfleen and twenty acres to a 
Family did not hold out according to 
their way of Reckoning, by Reason they 
made very little or no fodder; and the 
Winter there being much harder than 
with UB, their Cattle fall'd; chiefly be- 



cause the English took uj) and survey'd 
all the Land round about them; so that 
they were hemm'd in on all Hands from 
providing more Land for themselve-s or 
their Children, all which is prejudicial 
In America, where the generality are 
bred up to I'lantlng. One of these 
French men being a Fowling, shot a 
Fowl in the River, upon which his dog 
went down the Bank to bring it to his 
Master; but the iJank was so high and 
wteep, that he could not get up again. 
'There upon the French Man went down 
to help his Dog up, and Breaking the 
Mould away, accidently with his Feet, 
he discovered a very ^jch Ooal-Mlne. 
This Adventure he gaive an Account of 
amongst the Nolghborhood, and pres- 
ently one of the (Gentlemen of that Part 
survey'd the Land, and the poor French 
Man got nothing by his Discovery. The 
French are good Neighbours amongst 
us, and give Examples of Industry, 
which Is much wanted in this Country. 
They make good Flax, Hemp, Linen- 
Cloth and Thread; which they exchange 
amongst the Neighbourhood for other 
Commodities, for which they have oc- 
casion. 

We have hitherto made no Trial of 
foreign Herbage; but, doubtless It 
would thrive well; especially, Sanfoin, 
and those Grasses, that endure Heat, 
and dry Grounds. As for our Low 
Lands, such as Marshes, Savannas and 
I'ercoarson-Ground, which lies low, all 
of them naturally afford good land for 
pasturage. 



CHAPTER III. 



We will next treat of the Beasts, 
which you shall have an Account of, 
as they have beee discover'd. 

The Beasts of Carolina are the 

Buffelo, or wild beef. 

Bear. 

Panther. 

Cat-a-mount. 

Wild Cat. 

Wolf. 

Tyger. 

Polecat. 

Otter. 

Bever. 

Musk-Rat. 

Possum. 

Raccoon. 

Minx. 

Water-Rat. 

Rabbet, two sorts. 

Elks. 

Stags. 

Fallow-Deor. 

Squirrel, four sorts. 

Fox. 

Lfion, and Jackall on the Lake. 

Rats, two sorts. 

Mice, two sorts. 

Moles. 

Weasel, Dormouse. 

Rearmouse. 

The Buffelo is a wild Beast of Amer- 
ica, which has a Bunch on his Back, as 
the Cattle of St. Lawrence are said to 
have. He seldom appears amongst the 
English Inhabitants, his chief haunt be- 
ing in the Land of Mississippi, which is 
for the most part, a plain Country; yet 
I have known some kill'd on the Hilly 
Part of Cape-Fear-River, they pasising 
the Ledges of Vast Mountains from the 
said Mississippi, before they can come 
near us. I have eaten of their meat. 



but do not think it so good as our Beef; 
yet the younger Calves are cry'd up for 
excellent Pood, as very likely they may 
be. It is conjectured that these Buf- 
felos, mixt in Breed with our tame 
Cattle, would much better the Breed 
for Largeness and Milk, which seems 
very probable. Of the wild Bull's Skin, 
Buff is made. The Indians cut the Skin 
into Quarters for the Ease of their 
Transportation, and make Beds to lie 
on. They «pin the Hair into Garters, 
Girdles, and Sashes and the like, it be- 
ing long and curled, acid often of a 
chestnut or red colour. These Monsters 
are found to weigh (as I am informed 
by a Traveler of Credit) from 1,600 to 
2,400 Weight. 

The Bears here are very common, 
though not so large as in Greenland and 
the more Northern Countries of Rus- 
sia. The Flesh of this Beast is very 
good, and nourishing, and not inferior 
to the best Pork in Taste. It stands be- 
twixt Beef and Pork, and the young 
Cubs are a Dish for the Greateist Epi- 
cure living. I prefer this Flesh before 
any Beef, Veal, Pork or Mutton; and 
they look as well as they eat, their fat 
being as white as snow, and the sweet- 
est of any Creatures in the World. If a 
man drink a quart thereof melted, it 
never will rise in his Stomach. We pre- 
fer it above all things, to fry Fish and 
other things in. Those that are 
Strangers to it, may judge otherwise; 
but I who have eaten a great deal of 
Bear's Flesh in my Life-time (since my 
being an inhabitant in America) do 
think it equalizes, if not excels, any 
Meat I ever eat in Europe. The Bacon 
made thereof is extraordinary Meat; 
but it must be well saved, otherwise It 



68 



lawson's history 



will rust. This creature feeds upon all 
sorts of wild Fruits. When Herrings 
run, which is in March, the flesh of 
such of those Bears as eat thereof, is 
nought, all that season, and eats 
filthily. Neither is it good, when he 
feeds on Gum-berries, as I intimated 
before. They are great Devourers of 
Acorns, and sometimes meet the swine 
in the Woods, which they kill and eat, 
especially when they are hungry, ani 
can find no other Food. Now and then 
they get into the fields of Indian Corn, 
or Maiz, where they make a sad 
havock, spoiling ten times as much as 
they eat. The Fotatoes of this Coun- 
try are so agreeable to them, that never 
fail to sweep them all clean if they 
chance to come in their way. They 
are seemingly a very clumsy Creature, 
yet are very nimble in running up 
Trees, and traversing every limb there- 
of. When they come down they run Tail 
foremost. At catching Herrings they 
are most expert Fishers. They sit by 
the Creek-sides, (which are very nar- 
row) where the Fish run in; and there 
they take them up, as fast as it is pos- 
sible, they can dip their paws into the 
Water. There is one thing more to be 
considered of this Creature, which is, 
that no Man, either Christian or In- 
dian, has ever killed a She-bear with 
Young. 

It is supposed, that the She-Bears, af- 
ter conception hide themselves in some 
secret acid undiscoverable Place, till 
they bring forth their Young, which, in 
Probability, cannot be long; other the 
Indians who hunt the Woods, like Dogs, 
would, at some time or other, have 
found them out. Bear-Hunting is a 
great Sport in America, both with the 
English and the Indians. Some Years 
ago, there were killed five hundred 
Bears, in two counties of Virginia, in 
one Winter; and but two She-Bears 
amongst them all, which were not with 
Young, as I told you of the rest. The 



English, have a breed of Dogs fit for 
this soort, about the size of Farmers 
Dogs, and by Practice come to know 
the Scent of a Bear which, as soon as 
they have found, they run him, by the 
Nose, till they come up with him, and 
then bark and snap at him, till he trees, 
when the Huntsman shoots him out of 
the Trees, there being, for the most 
part two or three with Guns lest the 
first should miss, or not quite kill him. 
Though they are not naturally voraci- 
ous, yet they are very fierce when 
wounded. The Dogs often bring him to 
a Bay, when wounded, and then the 
Huntsmen make other Shots, perhaps 
with the Pistols that are stuck in their 
Girdles. If a Dog is apt to fatsten, and 
run into a Bear, he is not good, for the 
best Dog in Europe is nothing in their 
Pawes, but if they ever get him in their 
Clutches, they blow his Skin from his 
Flesh, like a Bladder, and often kill 
him; or if he recovers it, he is never 
good for anything after. As the Paws 
of this Creature are held for the best 
bit about him, so is the head esteemed 
the worst, and always thrown away, 
for what reason I know not. I believe 
none ever made Trial thereof to know 
how it eats. The Oil of the Bear, is 
very Sovereign for Strains, Aches and 
old Pains. The Fine Fur at the bottom 
of the Belly, is used for making Hats, 
in some places. The Fur itself is fit for 
(several Uses; as for making Muffs, fac- 
ing Caps, etc., but the black Cub-skin 
is preferable to all sorts of that kind, 
for Muffs. Its Grain is like Hog-Skin. 

The Panther is of the Cat's kind; 
about the height of a very large Grey- 
hound, of a reddish Colour, the same as 
a Lion. He climbs Trees with the 
greatest Agility imaginable, is very 
strong-limb'd, catching a piece of meat 
from any Creature he strikes at. His 
Tail is exceeding long; his Eyes look 
very fierce and lively, are large, and are 
of a greyish Colour, his Prey is S wines- 



OF NORTH CAROI.INA. 



69 



Flesh, Deer, or any thing he can take; 
no Creature is so nice and clean, as 
this, in his Food. When he has got his 
Prey he fills his Belly with the Slaugh- 
ter, and carefully lays up the Remain- 
der, covering it very neatly with 
Leaves, which if ajiy thing touches, he 
never eats any more of it. He purrs as 
Cats do; if taken when Young, is never 
to be reclaimed from his wild Nature. 
He hollows like a Man in the Woods, 
when killed, which is by making him 
take a Tree as the least Cur will pres- 
ently do; then the Huntsmen shoot him; 
if they do not kill him out- right, he 
is a dangerous Enemy, when wound- 
ed, especially to the Dogs that approach 
him. This Beast is the worst Enemy to 
the Planter, of any Vermine in Caroli- 
na. His flesh looks as well as any Sham- 
bles-Meat whatsoever; a great many 
People eat him, as choice Food; but I 
never tasted of a Panther, so cannot 
recommend the Meat, by my own Ex- 
perience. His Skin is a warm covering 
for the Indians in the Winter, though 
not esteemed amongst the choice Furs. 
This Skin, dress'd. makes fine Women's 
Shoes, or Mens Gloves. 

The Mountain Cat is so-called, be- 
cause he lives in the Mountainous Parts 
of America. He is a Beast of Prey, as 
the Panther is, and nearest to him in 
Bigness and Nature. 

The Cat is quite different from these 
in Europe; being more nimble and 
fierce, and larger; his Tail does not ex- 
ceed four Inches. He makes a very odd 
sort of Cry in the Woods, in the Night. 
He is spotted as the Leopard is, tho' 
some of them are not, (which may hap- 
pen when their Furs are out of Season) 
he climbs a Tree very dexterously, and 
preys as the Panther does. He is a 
great Destroyer of Young Swine. I 
knew an Island which was possessed by 
these Vermine, unknown to the Planter, 
who put thereon a considerable Stock of 
Swine; but never took one back, for the 



wild Cats destroyed them all. He takes 
most of his Prey by surprise by get- 
ting up the Trees, which they pass by 
or under, and thence leaping directly 
upon them. Thus he takes Deer (which 
he cannot catch by running) and fast- 
ens his Teeth into their Shoulders and 
sucks them. They run with him till 
they fall down for want of strength, 
and become a Prey to the Enemy. 
Hares, Birds, and all he meets, that he 
can conquer, he destroys. The Fur is 
approv'd to wear as a Stomacher, for 
weak and cold Stomachs. They are 
likewise used to line Muffs, and Coats 
withal, in cold Climates. 

The Wolf of Carolina, is the Dog of 
the Woods. The Indians had no other 
Curs, before the Christians came 
amongst them. 'They are made domes- 
tick. When wild they are neither so 
large, nor fierce, as the Etiropean 
Wolf. They are not Man-slayers; 
neither is any Creature in Carolina, un- 
less wounded. They go in great Droves 
in the Night, to hunt Deer, which they 
do as well as the best Pack of Hounds. 
Nay, one of these will hunt down a 
Deer. They are often so poor, that 
they can hardly run. When they catch 
no Prey, they go to a Swamp, and fill 
their Belly full of Mud; if afterwards 
they chance to get anything of Flesh, 
they will disgorge the Mud, and eat 
the other. When they hunt in the 
Night, that there is a great many to- 
gether, they make the most hidious 
and frightful Noise, that ever was 
heard. The Pur makes good Muffs. The 
Skin dress'd to a Parchment makes the 
best Drum-Heads, and if tann'd makes 
the best sort of Shoes for the Summer- 
Countries. 

Tygers are never met withal in the 
Settlement; but are more to the 
Westward, and are not numerous on 
this Side the Chain of Mountains. I 
once saw one, that was larger than a 
Panther, and seemed to be a very bold 



70 



lawson's history 



Creature. The Indians that hunt in 
those Quarters, say, they are seldom 
met withal. It seems to differ from 
the Tyger of Asia and Africa. 

Polcats or Skunks in America, are 
different from those in Europe. They 
are thicker, and of a great many col- 
ours; not ill alike, but each differing: 
from another in the particular Colour. 
They smell like a Fox, but ten times 
stronger. When a Dog encounters them, 
they throw upon him, and he will not be 
sweet again in a Fortnight or More. 
The Indians love to eat their Flesh, 
which has no manner of ill Smell when 
the Bladder is out. I know no use their 
Furs are put to. They are easily 
brought up tame. 

There have been some Otters from 
the Westward of Caixjlina, which were 
of a white Colour, a little inclining to 
yellow. They live on the same Prey 
here, as in Europie, and are the same 
in all other Respects; so I shall insist 
no farther on that Creature. Their 
Furs, if black, are valuable. 

Bevers are very numerous in Caro- 
lina, there being labundance of their 
Dams in all parts of the Country, where 
I have travel'd. They are the most in- 
dustrious and greatest Artificers, (in 
building their Dams and Houses) of 
any four-footed Creatures in the 
World. Their Food is chiefly the Bark 
of Trees and Shrubs, viz.: Sassafras, 
Ash, Sweet-Gum, and several others. 
If you take them young they become 
very tame and domestick, but are very 
mischievous in spoiling Orchards, by 
breaking the Trees, and blocking up 
your Doors in the Night, with the 
Sticks and Wood they bring thither. If 
they eat any thing that is salt, it kills 
them. Their Flesh is a sweet Food; 
especially their Tail, which is held very 
dainty. Their Fore-Feet are open, like 
a Dog's; their Hind-Feet webbed like 
a Water-Fowl's. The Skins are good 
Furs for several Uses, which every one 



knows. The leather is very thick; I 
have known Shoes made thereof in 
Carolina, which lasted well. It makss 
the best Hedges Mittens that can be 
used. 

Musk Rats frequent fresh Streams 
and no other; as the Bever does. He 
has a Cell of Musk, which is valuable, 
as is likewise his Fur. 

The Possum is found no where but in ^ 
America. He is The Wonder of all the 
Land-Animals, being the size of a 
Badger, and near that colour. The Fe- 
male, doubtless, breeds her Young at 
her Teats; for I have seen them stick 
fast thereto, when they have been no 
bigger than a small raspberry, and 
seemingly inanimate. She has a Paunch 
or false Belly, wherein she carries her 
Young, after they are from those 
Teats, till they can shift for them- 
selves. Their Food is Roots, Poultry or 
Wild Fruits. They have no Hair on 
their Tails, but a sort of Scale or hard 
Crust, as the Bevers have. If a Cat has 
nine Lives, this Creature surely has 
nin teen; for if you break every Bone 
in their Skin, and mash their Skull, 
leaving them for Dead, you may come 
an hour after, and they will be gone 
quite away. They lare a very stupid 
Creature, utterly neglecting their Safe- 
ty. They are most like Rats of any- 
thing. I have for necessity in the Wil- 
derness, eaten of them. Their Flesh is 
very white, and well tasted; but their 
ugly tails '^ut me out of conceit with 
that Fare. They climb Trees as the 
Raccoons do. Their Fur is not esteemed 
nor used, save that the Indians spin it 
into Girdles and Garters. 

The Raccoon is of a dark-grey Colour; 
if taken young, is easily made tame, 
but is the drunkenest Creature living, 
if he can get any Liquor that is sweet 
and strong. They are rather more un- 
lucky than a Monkey. When wild they 
are very subtle in catching their prey. 
Those that live in the Salt-Water, feed 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



71 



much on Oysters, which they love. They 
watch the Oyster when it ooens, and 
nimbly put in their Paw, and pluck out 
the Fish. Sometimes the Oyster shuts, 
and holds fast their Paiw till the Tide 
comes in, that they are drown'd, tho' 
they swim very well. The way th/at this 
Animal catches Crabs, which he great- 
ly admires, and which are plenty in 
Carolina, is worthy of Remark. When 
he intends to make a Prey of these 
Fish, he goes to a Marsh, where stand- 
ing on the Land, he lets his Tail hans 
in the Water. This the Crab takes 
for a Bait, and fastens his Claws there- 
in, which as the Raccoon perceives, he, 
of a sudden, springs forward, a consid- 
erable way, on the Land and brings 
the Crab along with him. As soon as 
the Fish finds himself out of his Ele- 
ment, he presently lets go his hold; and 
then the Raccoon encounters him by 
getting him cross-wise in his Mouth, 
and devours him. There is a small sort 
oif Land Crab, which we call a Fid- 
dler, that runs into a Hole when any- 
thing pursues him. This Crab the Rac- 
coon takes by putting his Fore-Foot in 
the Hole, and pulling him out. With a 
tame Raccoon this sport is very divert- 
ing. The Chief of his other Foods is all 
sorts of wild Fruits, green Corn, and 
such as the Bear delights in. This and 
the Possum are much of a Bigness. The 
Fur makes Hats and Linings. The Skin 
dress'd makes fine Womens Shoes. 

The Minx is an Animal much like the 
English Fillemart or Polcat. He is 
long, slender, and every way shap'd 
like him. His Haunts are chieflv in 
the Marshes by the Sea- Side and Salt- 
Waters, where he lives on Pish, Fowl, 
Mice and Insects. They are bold 
Thieves and will steal anything from 
you in the Night, when asleep, as I 
can tell by Experience, for one Winter 
by Misfortune, I ran my Vessel 
a-ground, and went often to the Banks, 
to kill Wild Fowl, which we did a 



great many. One Night we had a mind 
to sleep on the Banks (the Weather 
being fair) and wrapt up the Geese 
which he had kill'd, and not eiaten. 
very carefully, in the Sail of a Canoe, 
and folded it several Doubles, and for 
their better Security, laid them all. 
Night under my Head. In the Morning 
when I wak'd a Minx had eaten thro' 
every Fold of the Canoes Sail, and 
Thro' one of the Geese, most part of 
which was gone. These are likewise 
found high up in the Rivers, in whose 
sides they live; which is known by the 
abundance of Fresh-Water Muscle- 
Shells (such as you have in England) 
that lie at the mouth of their Holes. 
This is an Enemy to the Tortoise 
whose Holes in the Sand, where they 
hide their Eggs, the Minx finds out, 
and scratches up and eats. The Rac- 
soons and Crows do the same. The 
Minx may be made domestick, and 
were it not for his paying a Visit now 
and then to the Poultry, they are the 
greatest destroyers of Rats and Mice, 
that are in the World. Their Skins, if 
good of that kind, are valuable, pro- 
vided they are kill'd in Season. 

The Water-Rat is found here, the 
same as in England. The Water-Snakes 
are often found to have of these Rats 
in their Bellies. 

That which the People in Carolina 
call a Hare, is nothing but a Hed^e- 
Coney. They never borough in the 
Ground, but much frequent Marshes 
and Meadow Lands. They hide their 
Young in some Places secure from the 
Discovery of the Buck, as the Euro- 
pean Rabbits do, and are of the same 
Colour; but if you start one of them 
and pursue her, she takes into a hollow 
Tree, and there runs up as far as she 
can, in which the Hunter makes a Fire, 
and smokes the Tree, which brings 
her down and smothers her. At one 
time of the Year, great Bots or Mag- 
gots breed betwixt the Skin and the 



72 



lawson's history 



Flesh of these Creatures. They eat just 
as the English ones do; but I never 
saw one of them fat. We fire the 
Marshes, and then kill abundance. 

The English, or European Coneys are 
here found, tho' but in one place that 
I ever knew of, which was in Trent- 
River, where they borough among the 
Rocks. I cannot believe, these are Na- 
tives of the Country, any other-wise 
than that they might come from 
aboard some Wreck; the Sea not being 
far off. I was told of several that were 
upon Bodies Island by Roanoke, which 
came from that Ship of Bodies, but I 
never saw any. However the banks 
are no proper Abode Above of Safety, 
because of the many Minxes in those 
Quarters. I carried over some of the 
tame sort from England to South Caro- 
lina, which bred three times going 
over, we having a long Passa^^e. I 
turn'd them loose in a Plantation, and 
the young ones, and some of the old 
ones bred great Maggots in their bodies. 
At last the great Gale in Septem- 
ber, 1700, brought a great deal of Rain, 
and drown'd them all in their Holes. I 
intend to make a second tryal of them 
in North Carolina, and doubt not but 
to secure them. 

The Elk is a Monster of the Venison 
sort. His Skin is used almost in the 
same Nature as the Buffalo's. Some 
take him for the red Deer of America; 
but he is not. For if brought and kept 
in Company with that sort of the con- 
trary Sex, he will never couple. His 
Flesh is not so sweet as the lesser 
Deers. His Horns exceed (in weierht.) 
all Creatures which the new World af- 
fords. They will often resort and feed 
with the Buffalo delighting in the same 
as they do. 

The Stags of Carolina are lodg'd in 
the Mountains. They are not so large 
as in Europe, but much larger than 
any Fallow-Deer. They are always fat, 
I believe, with some delicate Herbage 



that grows on the Hills, for we find all 
Creatures Ihat graze much taftier and 
better Meat on the Hills than those on 
■the Valleys, I mean towards the 
Sea. Some Deer on these Mountains 
afford the occidental Bezoar, not com- 
ing from a Goat as some report. What 
sort of Beast affords the Oriental Be- 
zoar, I know not. The Tallow of the 
Hearts makes incomparable Candles. 
Their Horns and Hide are of the same 
Value, as others of their kind. Fallow 
Deer in Carolina, are taller and long- 
er-legg'd, than in Europe; but neither 
run so fast nor are so well haunch'd. 
Their Singles are much longer, and 
their Horns stand forward, as the oth- 
ers incline backward; neither do they 
beam, or bear their Antlers, as the 
English do. Towards the Salts, they are 
not generally so fat and good Meat, 
as on the Hills. I Wave known some 
kill'd on the Salts in January, that 
have had abundance of Bots in their 
'Throat, which keep them very poor. 
As the Summer approaches these Bots 
come out, and turn into the finest But- 
terfly imaginable, being very large, and 
having black, white and yellow Stripes. 
Deer-Skins are one of the best Com- 
modities Carolina affords, to ship off 
for England, provided they be large. 

Of Squirrels we have four Sorts. The 
first is the Fox-Squirrel, so call'd, be- 
cause of his large Size, w'hich is the 
Bigness of a Rabbit of two or three 
Months old. His Colour is commonly 
grey; yet I have seen several pied 
ones, and some reddish and black; his 
chiefest Haunts are in the Piny land, 
where the Almond-Pine grows. There 
he provides his Winter-Store, they be- 
ing a nut that never fails of bearing. 
He may be made tame and is very good 
Meat, when killed. 

The next sort of Sqirrel is much of 
the Nature of the English, only differ- 
ing in Colour. Their Food is Natural of 
all sorts the Country affords and 



OF ISORTH CAROLINA. 



12> 



Acorns. They eat well, and like the 
Bear, are never found with young-. 

The Fly-Squirrel is grey, as well as 
the others. He is the least of the Three. 
His Food is much the same with the 
small grey Squirrels. He has not Wings 
as Birds and Bats have, there being a 
fine thin Skin, covered with Hair, as 
the rest of the parts are. This is from 
the Fore-Feet to the Hinder-Feet, 
which is extended and holds so much 
Air, as buoys him up, from one Tree to 
another, that are greater distances 
.asunder, than other Squirrels can 
reach by jumping or Springing. He is 
made very tame, is an Enemy to a 
Corn-Field, (as all Squirrels are) and 
eats only the germinating Eye of that 
Grain, which is very sweet. 

Ground Squirrels are so call'd, be- 
cause they never delight in running up 
Trees, and leaping from Tree to Tree. 
They are the smallest of all Squirrls. 
Their Tail is neither so long or bushy; 
but flatfish. They are of a reddish 
Colour, and striped down each side 
with bteck Raws, which make them 
very beautiful. They may be kept tame, 
in a little Box with Cotton. They and 
the Fly-Squirrels seldom stir out in 
Cold Weather, being tender Animals. 

The Pox of Carolina is sray, but 
smells not as the Foxes in Great-Brit- 
ian, and elsewhere. They have reddish 
Hair aibout their Ears, and are general- 
ly very fat, yet I never saw any one 
eat them. When hunted they make a 
sorry chase, because they run up Trees 
when pursued. They are never to be 
made familiar and tame, as the RJac- 
coon is. Their Furs if in Season, are 
used for Muffs and other Ornaments. 
They live chiefly on Birds and Fowls, 
and such small Prey. 

I have been informed by the Indians, 
that on la Lake of Water towiards the 
Head of Neus River, there Haunts a 
Creature, which frightens them all 
from hunting thereabouts. They say, he 



is the Colour of a Panther, but cannot 
run up Trees; and that abides with him 
a Creature like an Englishman's Dog, 
which runs faster than he can, and 
gets his Prey for him. They add that 
there is no other of that Kind that ever 
they met withal and that they have no 
other way to avoid him, but by running 
up a Tree. The Certainty of this I can- 
not affirm by my own Knowledge, yet 
they all agree in this Story. As for 
Lions, I never saw any in America; 
neither can I imagine, how they should 
come there. 

Of Rats we have two sorts; the 
House-Rat, as in Europe; and the 
Marsh-Rat, which differs very much 
from the other, being more hairy, and 
has several other Distinctions, too long 
here to name. 

Mice are the same here, as those in 
England, that belong to the House. 
There is one sort that poisons a Cat. 
as soon as she eats of them, which has 
some times happened. These Mice re- 
sort not to Houses. 

The Dormouse is the same as In Ensr- 
land; and so is the Weasel, which is 
very scarce. 

The Bat or Bearmouse, the same as 
in England. The Indian Children are 
much addicted to eating Dirt, and so 
are some of the Christians. But roast 
a Bat on a Skewer, then pull the Skin 
off, and make the child that eats Dirt, 
eat the roasted Bearmouse, and he 
wall never eat Dirt again. This is held 
as an infallible Remedy. I haav put 
this among the Beasts, as partaking of 
both Natures; of the Bird and Mouse- 
Kind. 

Having mention'dall the sorts of Ter- 
restrial or Land Animals, which Caro- 
lina affords and are yet known to use, 
except the Tame and Domestick Crea- 
tures (of which I shall give an account 
of hereafter, when I come to treat of 
the Ways and Manners of Agriculture 
in that Province) I shall proceed to the 



74 



lawson's history 



known Insects of that Place. Not that 
I pretend to give an ample amount of 
the whole Tribe, which is too numer- 
ous, and contains too great a Diversity 
of Species, many not yet discovered, 
and others that have slips my Memory 
at present; But those that I can re- 
member, I herewith present by Readers 
withal. 
INSECTS OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Allegators, Rattle-Snakes, Ground 
Rattle-Snakes, Horn-Snakes, Water- 
Snakes, four sorts. Swamp Snakes, 
three sorts. Red-bellied Land-Snakes, 
Red-back'd Snake, Black Truncheon 
Sciake, Scorpion Lizard, Frogs, many 
sorts, Long Black Snake, King-Snake, 
Green-Snake, Vipers, black and gray, 
Tortois, Terebin, Lamd and Water, 
Brimstone-Snake, Egg, or Chicken- 
Snake, Eel-Snake or great Loach, Rot- 
ten-wood Worm, etc. 

The Allegator is the same as the 
Crocodile, and differs only in name. 
They frequent the sides of the Rivers, 
in the Banks of which they make their 
Dwellings, a great way under Ground; 
the Hole or Mouth of their Dens lying 
commonly under two Foot of Water, 
after which it rises till it be consider- 
ably above the surface thereof. Here 
it is that this amphibious Monster 
dwells all the Winter, sleeping away 
his time till the Spring appears, when 
he comes from his Cave, and Daily 
swims up and down the Streams. He 
always breeds in some fresh Stream, 
or clear Fountain of Water, yet seeks 
his Prey in the broa'd Salt Waters, that 
are brackish, tiot on the) Sea-Side, 
where I never met with any. He never 
devours Men in Carolina, but uses all 
ways to avoid them; he kills Swine and 
Dogs, the former as they come to feed 
in the Marshes, the others as they 
Swim over the Creeks and Waters. 
They are very mischievous to the 
Wares made foi^ taking Fish, into 
which they come to Prey on the Fish 



that are caught in the Ware, from 
which they cannot readily extricate 
themselves, and so break the Ware in 
Pieces, being a very strong Creature. 
This Animal in these Parts sometimes 
exceeds seventeen Foot long. It is im- 
possible to kill them with a Gun, un- 
less you chance to hit them about the 
Eyes, which is a much softer Place 
than the rest of their inpenetrable Ar- 
mour. They roar and make a hideous 
Noise against bad Weather, and be- 
fore they come out of their Dens in the 
Spring. I was pretty much frightened 
with ocie of these once; which happen- 
ed thus: I had built a House about 
half a mile from an Indian Town, on 
the Fork of Neus-River, where I 
dwelt by myself, excepting a young In- 
dian Fellow, and a Bull- Dog that I had 
along with me. I had not then been 
so long a Sojourner in America, as lo 
be thoroughly acquainted with this 
Creature. Ocie of them had got his 
Nest directly under my House, which 
stood on pretty high Land, and by a 
Creek Side, in whose Banks his enter- 
ing-place was, hdis Den reaching the 
Ground directly on which my House 
stood. I was sitting alone by the Fire- 
side (about nine a Clock at Night, 
some time in March) the Indiaci fellow 
being gone to the Town to see his Re- 
lations; so that there was nobody in 
the House but myself and my* Dog; 
when all of a sudden this ill-favour'd 
Neighbor of mine, set up such a Roar- 
ing, that he made the House shake 
about my Ears, and so continued, like 
a Bittern, (but a hundred times loud- 
er if possible) for four or five times. 
The Dog started, as if he was fright- 
ened out of his senses; nor indeed could 
I imagine what it was, having never 
heard one af them before. Immediate- 
ly again I had another Lesson; and so 
a third. Being at that lime amongst 
nothing but Savages, I began to sus- 
pect they were working some piece of 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



75 



Conjuration under my House, to get 
away my Goo'd«; not but that, at aci- 
other time, I have as little Faith in 
their, or any other working Miracles, 
by Diabolical Means, as any Person 
living. At last my Man came in, to 
whom, when I had told the Story, he 
laugh'd at me, and presently unde- 
ceiv'd me, by telling me what it was 
that made the Noise. These Allegators 
lay Eggs, as the Ducks do; only they 
are larger shap'd, larger and a thick- 
er shell, than they have. How locig 
they are in hatching, I cannot tell; but, 
as the Indians say, it is inost part of 
the Summer; they always lay by a 
Spring-Side, the young living in and 
about the same, as soon as hatched. 
Their Eggs are laid in nests made in 
the Marshes, and contain twenty or 
thirty Eggs. Some of these Creatures 
afford a great deal of Musk. Their 
Tail when cut off, looks very fair and 
white, seemingly like the best of Veal. 
Some People have eaten thereof, and 
say it is delicate Meat, when they hap- 
pen not to be musky. Their Flesh is 
accounted proper for such as are 
troubled with the lame Distemper, (a 
sort of Rheumatism) so ia the fat 
very prevailing to remove Aches and 
Pains, by Unction. The teeth of this 
Creature when dead, are taken out, to 
make Charges for Gucis, being of sev- 
eral sizes, fit for all loads. They are 
white and would make Snuff-Boxes, if 
Wrought by an Artist. After the Tail 
of the Allegator is separated from the 
Body, it will move very freely for four 
days. 

The Riattle-Snakes are found on all 
the Main of America, that I ever had 
any Account of; being so call'd from 
the Rattle at the end of their Tail, 
which is a Connection of jointed Cov- 
erings, of an excrementitious Matter, 
betwixt the substance of a Nail and a 
Horn, tho' each Tegmen is very thin. 
Nature seems to have design'd these. 



on purpose to give Warning of such 
an approaching Danger, as the venom- 
ous Bite of these Snakes is. Some of 
them grow to a very great Bigness, as 
six Foot in Length, their middle being 
the thickness of the Small of a lusty 
Man's Leg. We have an Account of 
much larger Serpents of this Kind; but 
I never met them yet, although I have 
seen and kill'd abundance in my time. 
They are of an Orange, tawny, and 
blackish colour on the Back; differing 
(as all Snakes do) in Colour on the Bel- 
ly, being of an Ash Colour, inclining 
to Lead. TTie Male is easily distin- 
guished from the Femiale, by a black 
Velvet-Spot on his Head; and besides 
his Head is smaller shaped, and long. 
Their bite is venomous, if not speedily 
remedied; especially if the wound be 
in a Vein, Nerve, Tendon, or Sinew; 
when it is very difficult to cure. The 
Indians are the best Physicians for the 
Bite of these and all other venomous 
Creatures of this Country. There are 
four sorts of Snake-Roots already dis- 
covered, which knowledge came from 
the Indians, who have performed sev- 
eral great Cures. The Rattle- Snakes 
are accounted the peaceablest in the 
World; for they never attack any one, 
or injure them, unless they are trod 
upon, or molested. The most danger 
of being bit by these Snakes, is for 
those that survey Land in Carolina; 
yet I never heard of any Surveyor that 
was kill'd or hurt by them. I have 
myself gone over several of this Sort, 
and others; yet it pleased God, I never 
came to any harm. They have the 
Power, or Art (I know not which to 
call it) to charm Squirrels, Hares, Par- 
tridges, or any such thing, in such a 
manner, that they run directly into 
their Mouths. This I have seen by a 
Squirrel and one of these Rattle- 
Snakes; and other Snakeg have, in 
some measure, the same Power. The 
Rattle-Snakes have many small Teeth, 



76 



lawson's history 



of which I cannot see they make any 
use; for they swallow everything 
whole; but the Teeth which poison, are 
only four; two on each side of their 
Upper-Jaws. These are bent like a 
Sickle, and hang loose as if by a Joint. 
Towards the setting on of these, there 
is in each Tooth a little Hole, wherein 
you may .iust put in the Point of a 
Small Needle. And here it is that the 
Poison comes out (which is as green as 
grass) and follows the Wound made by 
the Point of their Teeth. They are much 
more Venomous in the months of June 
and July, than they are in March, 
April or September. The hotter the 
Weather the more Poisonous. Neither 
may we suppose, that they can renew 
their Poison as oft as they will; for we 
have had a Person bit by one of these 
who never rightly recovered it and 
very hardly escaped with Life, a sec- 
ond person bit in the same place by 
the same Snake, and received no more 
Harm, than if bitten with a Rat. They 
caist their Skins every Year, and com- 
monly abide near the Place where the 
old Skin lies. These cast Skins are 
used ici Physick, and the Rattles are 
reckon'd good to expedite the Birth. 
The Gall is made up into Pills, with 
Clay, and Kept for Use; being given in 
Pestilential Fevers and the Small-Pox 
It is accounted a noble Remedy, known 
to few and held as a great Arcanum. 
This Snake has two Nostrils on each 
side of hi's Nose. Their Venom, I have 
Reason to believe, effects no Harm, 
any otherwise than when darted into 
the Wound by the Serpents Teeth. 

The Ground R.attle-Snake, wrong 
nam'd, because it has nothing like Rat- 
tles. It resembles the Rattle-Snake a 
little in Colour, but is darker, and nev- 
er grows to any considerable Bigness, 
not exceeding a Foot, or fifteen inches. 
He is reckon'd among the worst of 
Snakes; and stays out the longest of 



any Snake I know, before he returns 
(in the Fall of the Leaf) to his Hole. 

Of the Horn Snakes I never saw but 
two, that I remember. They are like 
the Rattle- Snake in Colour, but rather 
lighter. They hiiss exactly like a 
Goose, when anything approaches 
them. They strike at their Enemy 
with their Tail, and kill whatsoever 
they wound with it, which is arm'd at 
the End with a horny Substance, like 
a Cock's Spur. This is their Weapon. 
I have it credibly reported, by those 
who said they were Eye-Witnesses, 
that a small Locust Tree, about the 
thickness of a Man's arm, being struck 
by one of these Snakes, at Ten a Clock 
in the Monaiing, then verdant and 
flourishing, at four in the Afternoon 
was dead, and the Leaves red and 
withered. Doubtless, be it how it will, 
they are very venomous. I think the 
Indians do not pretend to cure their 
Wound. 

Of Water-Snakes there are four 
sorbs. The first is of the Horn- Snake 
Colour, tho' less. The mext is a very 
long Snake, differing in Colour, and 
will make nothing to swim over a Riv- 
er a League wide. They hang upon 
Birches and upon Trees by the Water 
Side. I had the misfortune once to 
have one of them leap into my Boat, 
as I was going up a narrow River; the 
Boat was full of Mats which I was 
glad to take out, to get rid of him. 
They are reckon'd poisonous. A third 
is much of an English Adder's Colour, 
but always frequents the Salts, and 
lies under the Drift Sea- Weed, where 
they are in abundance, and are ac- 
counted mischievous, when they bite. 
The last is of a sooty black Colour, and 
frequents Ponds and Ditches. What 
his Qualities are I cannot tell. 

Of the Swamp-S'nakes there are 
three sorts, which are very near akin 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



11 



to the Water-Snakes, and may be 
rank'd amongst them. 

The belly of ithe first is of a Carna- 
tion or Pink Colour; hiis back a dirty 
brown; they lare large but have not 
much Venom in them, as ever I learnt. 
The next is a large Snake, of a brown 
Dirt Colour, and always abides in the 
Marshes. The last is mottled, and 
very poisonous. They dwell in Swamp 
Sides, and Pccids, land have prodigious 
wide Mouths, and (though not long) 
arrive to the Thickness of a Man's 
Leg. 

The Red Bellied frequent the Land 
altogether, and are so call'd because of 
their red Bellies, which incline to an 
Orange Colour. Some have been bitten 
with these sort of Snakes and not hurt; 
when others have suffer'd very much 
by them. Whether there be two sorts 
Oif these Snakes, which we make no 
difference of, I cannot at present de- 
termine. 

I never saw but one of the Red-Back- 
ed, which I stept over, and did not see 
him till he that brought the chain after 
me, spy'd him. He has a red Back, as 
the last has a red Belly. They are a 
long, slender Snake, and very rare to 
be met withal. I enquired of the Indian 
that was along with me, whether they 
were very venomous, who made An- 
swer, that if he had bitten me, even the 
Indians could not have cured it. 

This sort of snake might very well 
have been ramk'd with the Water 
Snakes. They lie under Roots of 
Trees, and on ithe Banks of Rivers. 
When any thing disturbs them, they 
dart into the Water (which is Sialt) 
like an Arrow out of a Bow. They are 
thick, and the shortest Snake I ever 
isaw. What Good, or Harm, there is 
in them, I know not. Some of these 
Water- Snakes will swallow a black 
Land Snake, half as long again as 
themselves. 

The Scorpion Lizard, is no more like 



a Scorpion, than a Hedge-Hog; but 
they very comnmonly call him a Scor- 
pion. He is of the Lizard kind, but 
much bigger; his back is of a Dark 
Copper-Colour; his Belly a,n Orange; 
he is very nimble in running up trees, 
or on the Land, and is accounted very 
Poisonous. He has the most sets of 
teeth in his Mouth and Throat that ev- 
er I saw. 

Green Liaards are very Harmless 
and Beautiful, having a little Bladder 
under their throat, which they fill with 
wind and evacuate at their pleasure. 
They are of a most glorious Green and 
very tame. They resort to the Walls 
of houses in the Sumn^er Seiason, and 
stand gazing on a Man without any 
concern or fear. There are several 
other Colours of these Lizards, but none 
so beautiful as the green ones are. 

Of Frogs we have several sorts; the 
most famous is the Bull Frog, so call- 
ed bedause he lows exactly like that 
beast, which makes Strangers Wonder 
(When by the side of a Marsh) what's 
the matter, for they hear the Frogs 
Low, and can see no Cattle; he is very 
large. I believe I have seen one with 
as much meat on him as a Pullet, if he 
had been dressed. The smJall Green 
Frogs get upon Trees and make a 
noise. There are several other colored 
small Frogs; but th,e common land 
Frog is likest a Tbad, only he leaios 
and is not poisonous. He is a great 
devourer of Ants, and the Snakes de- 
vour him. These Frogs, baked and beat 
to powder, and taken with Orrice-Root, 
cure a Tympany. 

The long. Black Snake frequents the 
Land altogether, and is the nimblest 
creature living. His bite has no more 
Venom than a prick with a pin. He 
is the best Mouser that can be; for he 
leaves not one of that Vermin alive, 
where he comes. He also kills the Rat- 
tlesnake wheresoever he meets him, by 
twisting his head about the Neck of 



78 



IvAwson's history 



the Rattlesnake, and whipping him to 
death with his Tail. This Whipster 
haunts the Dairies of careless house- 
wives, and never misses to Skim the 
Milk clear of Cream. He is an ex- 
cellent Egg Merchant, for he does not 
suck the Eggs but swiallows them whole 
(As all Snakes do) He will often 
swallow all the eggs from under a Hen 
that sets, and coil himself under the 
Hen, in the Nest, where sometimes the 
Housewife finds him. This Snake, with 
all his agility, is so brittle, that when 
he is pursued and gets his head in the 
hole of a tree, if anybody gets hold of 
the other end he will twist and break 
himself off in the middle. One of these 
Snakes, whose neck is no larger than a 
woman's little finger, will swallow a 
Squirrel, so much does that part stretch 
in these Creatures. 

The King Snake is the longest of all 
others and not common; no Snake (they 
say) will meddle with them. I think 
they are accounted very venomous. The 
Indians make girdles and sashes of 
their skins. 

Green Snfakes are very small, tho' 
pretty, (if any Beauty be allowed to 
Snakes). Everyone makes themselves 
very familiar with them, and puts them 
in their bosom, because there is no 
manner of harm in them. 

The Corn Snakes are but srmall ones; 
they are of a brown colour, mixed with 
tawny. There is no more hurt in this 
than in a green snake. 

Of those we call Vipers there are two 
sorts. People call these Vipers be- 
cause they spread a very small head at 
any time they are vexed. One of these 
is grayish like the Italian Viper, the 
other blajck land short; and is reckon- 
ed amongst the worst of Snakes for 
Venom. 

Tortois, vulgarly called Turtle; I 
have ranked these among the Insects 
because they lay eggs, and I did not 
know well where to put them. Anwangst 



us there are three sorts; the first Is 
the Green Turtle, which is not com- 
mon, but is sometimes found on our 
coast. The next is the Hawk's Bill, 
which is common. These two sorts are 
extraordinary meaty. The third is the 
Logger-Head, which kind one scarce 
ever covets, except for the eggs, 
which of this and all other Turtles are 
very good Pood. None of these sorts 
of Creatures' eggs will ever admit the 
whites to be harder than a jelly; yet 
the Yelk with boiling becomes as hard 
as any other egg. 

Of Terebins there are divers sorts, 
all which, to be brief, we will compre- 
hend under the distiniction of Land and 
Water Terebins. 

The Land Terebin is of severtal sizes 
but, generally round- Mouth'd and not 
Hawk Bill'd, as some are. The Indians 
eat them. Most of them are good Meat, 
except the very large ones; and they 
are good Food too, provided they are 
not Musky. They are a bitter Enemy 
to the Rattle Snake, for when the 
Terebin nieets him he catches hold of 
him a little below his neck, and draws 
his head into his shell, which makes the 
snake beat his Tail, and Twist about 
with all the strength and Violence 
Imaginable, to get away, but the Tere- 
bin soon dispatches him and there 
leaves him. These they call in Eu- 
rope the Land Tortois. Their food is 
Snails, Tad-poles or young frogs. Mush- 
rooms, and the Dew and Slime of the 
Earth and Ponds. 

Water Terebins are small, containing 
about as n^uch meat as a Pullet, and 
are extraordinary good Food; especial- 
ly, in May and June. When they lay 
eggs, their Eggs are very good; but 
they have so many enemies that finds 
them out that the hundredth part nev- 
er comes to perfection. The Sun and 
Sand hatch them, which come out the 
bigness of a small chestnut, and seek 
their own living. 



OF NORTH CAROIvINA. 



79 



We now .come again to the Snakes. 
The BrimiStone is so called I believe 
because it is almost of a brimstone col- 
our. They might as well have called it 
a glass snake, for it is as brittle as 
a tobacco P)ipe, so that if you give it 
the least Touch of a small Twig, it 
ibreaks into several small pieces. Some 
affirm that if you leave it where you 
broke it, it will come together again. 
What harm, there is in this brittle ware 
I cannot tell, but I never knew any- 
body hurt by them. 

The Egg or Chicken Snake is so- 
called because it frequents the chicken 
yard, and eats Eggs and Chickens; they 
are of a dusky soot colour, and will roll 
themselves round and stick 18 or 20 
foot high, by the side of a smooth- 
barked pine, where there is no man- 
ner of hold, and there sun themselves 
and sleep all the sunny part of the day. 
There is no great matter of poison in 
them. 

The wood worms are of copper, shin- 
ing colour, sdarce so thick as your lit- 
tle finger; are often found in rotten 
trees. They a-re accounted Venomous, 
in case they bite, tho' I never knew 
anything hurt by them. They never 
exceed four or five inches in length. 

The Reptiles, or smaller Insects, are 
too numerous to relate here, this Coun- 
try affording innumerable quantities 
thereof; as the Flying Stags, with 
horns; Beetles, Butterflies, Grasshop- 
pers, Locusts, and several hundreds of 
uncouth shapes, which in the Summer 
Season are discovered here in Caro- 
lina, the description of which requires 
a large volume, which is not my in- 
tent at present. Besides, what the 
Mountainous part of this land raay 
hereafter lay open to our view. Time 
and Industry will discover, for we that 
have settled but a small part of this 
Province, cannot imagine but that there 
will be a larger number of Discover- 
ies made by those that shall come here- 



after into the back part of this Land, 
and make inquiries therein, when, at 
least, we consider, that the Westward 
of Carolina is quite different in Soil, 
Air, Weather, Growth of Vegetables, 
and several Animals too, which at pires- 
ent we are total strangers to, and to 
seek for. As to a right knowledge there- 
of I say, when another Age is come, the 
Ingenious Heads then in being upon the 
Shoulders of them that went before 
them, adding their own experiments to 
what was delivered down by their Pre- 
decessors, then there will be somethiug 
towards a complete Natural History, 
(which in these days would be no easie 
undertaking to any author that writes 
truly and compendiously, as he ought 
to do.) It is sufficient at present to 
write an Honest and Fair Account, of 
any of the Settlements in this new 
World, without wandering out of the 
Path of Truth or bespiattering any 
Man's Reputation, any wise concern- 
ed in the Government of the Colony; 
he that mixes Invectives with Rela- 
tions of this Nature renders himself 
suspected of Partiality in whatever he 
writes. For my part I wish all well, 
and he that has received any severe 
dealings from the Mlagistrate or hie 
Superiors, had best examine himself 
well, if he was not first in the fault; 
if so he can then justly blame none 
but himself for what has happened to 
him. 

Having thus gone through the insects 
as in the table, except the Eel-Snake, 
(so call'd, though very improperly, be- 
cause he is nothing but a laach that 
sucks and cannot bite as the Snakes 
do). He is very large, commonly six- 
teen inches or a foot and a half lone^ 
having all the properties that other 
Loaches have, and dwells in pools land 
waters as they do. Notwithstanding we 
have the same Loach as you have, in 
Bigness. 

This is all that at present I sJiall 



8o 



lawson's history 



mention, touching the Insects, and so 
go on and give and account of the 
Fowls and Birds, that are properly 
found in North Carolina, which are 
these: 

BIRDS IN NORTH CAROLINA. 

Eagle bald, Eagle Gray, Fishing 
Hawk, Turkey Vulture or Hawk, Her- 
ring-Tail Hawk, Goshawk, Falcon, 
Merlin, Sparrow-hawk, Hobby, Ring- 
tail, Raven, Crow, Black- Birds, two 
sorts. Bunting, two sorts. Peasants, 
Woodcock, Snipe, Partridge, Moorhen, 
Green Plover, Plover Gray or Whist- 
ling, Pigeon, Turtle Dove, Parrakeeto, 
Thrush, Woodpecker, five sorts, Mock- 
ing Bird, two sorts, Cat Bird, Cuckoo, 
Blue Bird, Blue Finch, Nightingale, 
Hedge Sparrow, Wren Sparrows, two 
sorts. Lark, Red Bird, East Indian Bat, 
Martins, two sorts, Diveling or Swift, 
Swallow, Humming Bird, the Tom Tit, 
or OX Eye, Owls, two sorts, Scritch 
Owl, Baltimore Bird, Throstle (no sing- 
er), Phippoo Will, Reed Sparrow, Weet 
bird, Rice Bird, Cranes and Storks, 
Snow-Birds, Yellow Wings. 

WATER FOWL ARE 

Swans, called Thompeters, Swans, 
called Hoopers, Geese, three sorts. 
Brant gray, Brant white, Sea-pies or 
pied Curlens, Willets, Great Gray Gulls, 
Old Wives, Sea Cock, Curlues, three 
sorts, Coots, Kings-fisher, Loons, two 
sorts, Bitterns, three sorts. Hern white. 
Hern gray. Water Pheasant, Little 
Gray Gull, Little Fisher, or Dipper, 
Ducks as in England, Ducks, Black all 
Summer, Ducks pied, build on Trees, 
Ducks Whistling, at Sapona, Ducks. 
Scarlet Eye, at Esaw, Blue- wings. Wid- 
geon, Teal two sorts, Shovelers, Whis- 
tlers, Black Plu'sterers or Bald Coot, 
Turkey wild. Fishermen, Divers, Raft 
Fowl, Bull- necks. Redheads, Tropick 
birds. Pelican, Cormorant, Gannet, 
Shearwater, Great black pied Gull, 
Marsh hens, Blue Peters, Sand-birds, 
Runners, Tutcocks, Swaddle-bills, Old 



Men, Sheldrakes, Bald-Faces, Water- 
Witch or Ware Coot. 

As the Eagle is reckoned the King of 
Birds I have begun with him. The first 
I shall speak of is the Bald Eagle; so 
called becHause his head to the middle of 
his neck, and his tail is as white as 
snow. These Birds continually breed 
the year around; for when the young 
Eagles are just downed with a sort of 
white woolly Feathers, the hen Eagle 
lays again, which eggs are hatched by 
the wiarmth of the young ones in the 
nest, so that the flight of one brood 
makes room for the next that are just 
hatched. They prey on any living thing 
they can catch. They are heavy of 
flight and cannot get their food by 
swiftness, to help which there is a 
Fishhawk which catches Fishes, and 
suffers the Eagle to take them from 
her, altho* she is long-winged and 
swift flying and can make far better 
way in her flight than the Eagle can. 
The Bald Eagle attends the Gunner 
in Winter, with all the obsequiousness 
imaginable, and when he shoots and 
kills any fowl the Eagle surely comes 
in for his Bird; and besides those that 
are wounded and escape the Fowler 
coime into the Eagle's share. He is aJi 
excellent artist at stealing young Pigs, 
which prey he carries alive to his Nest, 
at which time the poor pig makes such 
a strange noise over-head, that strang- 
ers that have heard themi cry, and not 
seen the Bird and his Prey, have 
thought that there were flying Sows 
and Pigs in that country. The Eagle's 
nest is made of twigs, sticks and rub- 
bish. It is big enough to fill a hiand- 
some Cart's body, and commonly so 
full of nasty bones and carcasses that 
it stinks most offensively. This Eagle 
is not bald until he is one or two years 
old. 

The gray Eagle is altogether the same 
sort of a Bird, as the Eagle in Europe, 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



8i 



therefore we shall treat no further of 
him. 

The Fishing Hawk is the Eagle's 
Jackal, which most commonly (tho' 
not always), takes his prey for him. 
He is a large bird, being above two- 
thirds as large las the Eagle. He builds 
his Nest as the Eagles do, that is in 
a young cypress Tree, either standing 
in, or hard by the Water. The Eagle 
and this bird seldom sit on a living 
tree. He is of a gray pied Colour, and 
the most dexterous Fowl in Nature at 
Catching of Fish, which he wholly 
lives on, never elating any flesh. 

The Turkey-Buzzard of Carolina is 
a small Vulture, which lives on any 
dead carcasses. They are about the 
Bigness of a Fishing Hawk, and have 
a nasty smell with them. They are of 
the Kite's Colour, and are reported to 
be an enemy to snakes, by killing all 
that they meet withal of that kind. 

The Herring, or Swallow-Tailed 
Hawk, is about the bigness of a falcon, 
but a much longer bird. He is of a del- 
icate Aurora Colour. The Pinions of 
his Wings and End of his Tail are 
Black. He is a very beautiful bird, and 
never appears abroad but in the sum- 
mer. His prey is chiefly Snakes, and 
he will kill the biggest we have with 
a great deal of Dexterity land Ease. 

Goshawks are very beautiful in Car- 
olina. They are not seemingly so 
large as those from Muscovy, but ap- 
pear to be a very brisk bird. 

The Falcon is much the same as in 
Europe, and promises to be la brave 
bird, tho' I never had any of them in 
my hand, neither did I ever see any 
of them in any other posture than on 
the Wing, which always happened to 
be in an evening, and flying to the 
westward; therefore I believe we may 
expect to find them and several other 
species that we are at present strtansr- 
ers to. 

The Merlin is a small bird in Eu- 



rope, but much smaller here; yet he 
very nimbly kills the smaller sorts of 
birds, and sometimes the Partridge; If 
caught alive he would be a great rar- 
ity, because of his beauty and smalT- 
ness. 

The Sparrowhawk in Carolina is no 
bigger than a fieldfare in England. He 
flies at the Bush and sometimes kills 
a snuall Bird, but his chiefest food is 
reptiles, as Beetles, Grasshoppers and 
such small things. He is exactly as 
the same colour as the Sparrowhawk 
in England, only has a blackish Hood 
by his Eyes. 

Hobbies are the same here as in 
England and are not often met withal. 

The Ringtail is a short-winged hawk, 
preying on mice and such vermin in 
the Marshes, as in England. 

Ravens the same as in England, 
though very few. I have not seen 
above six or eight in a year's time. 

Crows are here less than in England. 
They are as good meat as Pigeons; and 
never feed on any Carrion; they are 
great enemies to the cornfields and cry 
and build almost like rooks. 

Of Blackbirds we have two sorts, 
which are the worst Vermin in Ameri- 
ca. They fly sometimes in such flocks 
that they destroy everything before 
them. They (both sorts) build in hol- 
low trees, as Starlings do. The first 
sort is near as big as a Dove 
and is white and delicate food. 
The other sort is very beautiful 
and aibout the bigness of an Ous^. 
Part of their head next to the bill, and 
the pinions of the wings, are of an or- 
ange and glorious crimson colour. They 
are as good meat as the "former, tho' 
very few here, (where large fowl are 
so plenty) ever trouble themselves to 
kill or dress them. 

Of the Bunting-Larks we have two 
sorts, though the heel of this bird is 
not so long as in Europe. The first 
of these often accompany the Black- 



82 



lawson's history 



birds, and sing as the Bunting-Larks 
in England do, differing very little. The 
first sort has an onange colour on the 
tops of their wings, and are as good 
meat as those in Europe. The other 
sort is something less of a lighter col- 
our, nothing differing therein as to col- 
our, bigness and meat. 

The Pheasant of Carolina differs 
some small matter from the English 
Pheasant, being not so big and havins 
some difference in feather; yet he is 
not anywise inferior in delicacy, but is 
as good Meat, or rather nner. He 
haunts the Backwoods and is seldom 
found near the Inhabitants. 

The Woodcocks live and breed here, 
though they are not in great plenty 
as I have seen them in some oarts of 
England and other places. They want 
one-third of the English Woodcock in 
bigness; but differ not in shape or 
feather, save that their breasts are of 
a carnation Colour; and they make a 
noise (when they are on the wing) like 
the bells about a hawk's legs. They are 
certainly as dainty Meat as any in the 
world. Their aibode in lall parts of this 
country is in low and boggy ground, 
Springs, Swamps and Percoarsons. 

The Snipes here frequent the same 
places as they do in England, and dif- 
fer nothing from them. They are the 
only wild bird that is nothing different 
from the species of Europe and keeps 
with us all the year. In some places 
there are la great many of these Snipes. 

Our Partridges in Carolina very of- 
ten take upon the Trees, and have a 
sort of whistle and call quite different 
from those in England. They are a 
very beautiful bird and great destroy- 
ers of the pease in Plantations; where- 
fore they set traps and catch many of 
them. They have the same feather as 
in Europe; only the cock wants the 
horse-shoe, in lieu of which he has a 
fair half-circle over each eye. These 
as well as the Woodcock .are less than 



the European Bird, but far finer meat. 
They might be easily transported to 
any place, because they take to eating 
after caught. 

The 'Moorhens are of the Blackgame. 
I .am informed that the Gray game 
haunts the hills. They come not into 
the settlements, but keep in their hilly 
parts. 

Jays are here common and very mis- 
chievous, in devouring our fruit and 
spoiling more than they eat. They are 
abundantly more beautiful and finer 
feathered than those in Europe, and 
not above half so big. 

The Lap-wing or Green Plover are 
here very common. They cry pretty 
much as the English Plovers do; and 
differ not much in feather, but want a 
third of their bigness. 

The Gray or Whistling Plover are 
very scarce among us. I never saw 
lany but three times that fell and set- 
tled on the ground. They differ very 
little from those in Europe, as far as 
I could discern. I have seen several 
great flocks of them fly overhead; 
therefore believe that they inhabit the 
Valleys over the Mountains. 

Our Wild Pigeons are like the Wood 
Pigeons or Stock Geese, only they Wave 
a longer tiail. They leave us in the 
summer time. This sort of Pigeon, as 
I said before, is more like the Stock 
Dove or Wood Pigeon that we have in 
England; only these differ in their 
tails, which are very long, much like a 
Parekeeto's. You must understand that 
these birds do not breed amongst lis, 
(who are settled at or neiar the mouths 
of the rivers, as I have intimated to 
you before) but come down (specially 
in hard winters) amongst the Inhabi- 
tants in great flocks, as they were seen 
to do in the year of 1707, which was the 
hardest winter that ever was known, 
since C!tarolina w^as seated by the 
Christians. And if that country had 
such hard winters, what must be ex- 



OF NORTH CAROUNA. 



83 



pected of the severe winters in Penn- 
sylvania, Nevf York and New Ene:- 
land, where winters are ten times, if 
possible, colder than with us. Al- 
though the flocks are in such Extremi- 
ties, very numerous, yet they are not 
to be mentioned in comparison with 
the great and infinite numbers of the 
fowls, that are met withal about a 
hundred or a hundred and fifty miles 
to the Westw^ard of the places where 
we at present live; and where the 
Pigeons come down in quest of a small 
sort of acorn, which in those parts 
are plentifully found. They lare the 
same we call Turky-Acorns, because 
the wild Turkeys feed very much there 
on, and for the same reason those 
trees that bear them are called Tur- 
key Oaks. I saw such prodigious 
flocks of these pigeons in January 
and February, 1701-2 (which were m 
the hilly country between the great na- 
tion of the Esaw Indians and the 
pleiasant stream of Sapona, which is 
the west branch of Clarendon, or Cape 
Fair River, that they had broke down 
the limbs of a great many large trees 
all over those Woods, whereon they 
chanced to sit and roost; especially 
the great pines which are more brittle 
wood, thian our sorts of Oak are. These 
Pigeons, about sunrise, when we were 
preparing to march on our journey, 
would fly by us in such Vast Flocks 
that they would be near a quarter of 
an hour before they iwere all passed 
by; and as soon as thiat flock was 
passed another would come, and so 
successively one after another for a 
greater part of the Morning. It is ob- 
servable that wherever these fowl come 
in such large numbers, as I saw them 
then, they clear aJll before them, scarce 
leaving one acorn upon the ground, 
which would doubtless be a great prej- 
udice to the planters that 'would seat 
there, because their swine would be 
thereby deprived of the nrnst. When I 



saw such flocks of the Pigeons I now 
speak of, none of our company had any 
sort of a shot than that which is cast 
in Moulds and was so very large that 
we could not put above ten or a dozen 
of them into our largest pieces. Where- 
fore we made but an indifferent hand 
of shooting them; although we com- 
monly killed a Pigeon for every shot. 
They were very fat and as good Pig- 
eons as ever I eat. I enquired of the 
Indians that live in those parts, where 
it was that those Pigeons bred, and 
they pointed towards the vtast ridge of 
Mountains and said that they bred 
there. Now whether they make their 
nests in the holies of those rocks, or in 
the mountains, or build in trees I could 
not learn; but they seem to me to be a 
wood-pigeon that build in trees, be- 
cause of their frequent sitting thereon, 
and their roosting on trees always at 
night, under which their dung com- 
monly lies half a foot thick, and kills 
everything that grows where it falls. 

Turtle-doves are here very plentiful; 
they devour the peas, for which reason 
people make traps and catch them. 

The Parrakeetos are of a green col- 
our, and orange-coloured half way up 
their heads. Of these and the AUeea- 
tors there is none found to the north- 
ward of this Province. They visit us 
first when mulberries are ripe, which 
fruit they love extremely. They peck 
the apples to eat the kernels, so that 
the fruit rots and perishes. They are 
Mischievous to Orchards. They are 
often taken alive and will become fa- 
miliar and tame in two days. They 
have their nests in hollow trees in low 
swamp ground. They devour the Birch 
Buds in April, and lie hidden when the 
weather is frosty and hard. 

The Thrushes in America are the 
siame as in England, and red under the 
wings. They never appear amongst us 
but in hard weather, and presently 
leave us again. 



84 



lawson's history 



Of Wood-Peckers we have four sorts. 
The first is as big as a piigeon. being 
of a dark brown colour, with a white 
cross on his back, his eyes circled with 
white, .and on his head stands a tuft of 
beautiful scarlet feathers. His cry is 
heard a long way; and he flies from one 
rotten tree to another, to get Grubs, 
which is the Food he lives on. 

The second sort are of an Olive Col- 
our, striped with ydllow. They eat 
Worms as well as Grubs, and are about 
the bigness of those in Europe. 

The third is the same bigness as the 
last. He is pied with black and white 
and has a crimson he^ad without a top- 
ping, and is a plague to the corn and 
fruit; especially the apples. He opens 
the covering of the young corn so that 
the rain gets in and rots it. 

The fourth sort of these Wood-Peck- 
ers is a iblack and white speckled or 
mottled; the finest I ever siaw. The 
Cock has a red crown; he is not near 
so big as the others; his food is 
grubs, corn and other creeping insects. 
He is not very wild, but will let one 
come up to him, then shifts on the 
other side of the tree, from your sight, 
and so dodges you for a long time al- 
together. He is about the size of an 
English Dark. 

The Mocking Bird is about as big as 
the Throstle in England, but longer; 
they are of a white and gray colour, 
and are held to be the Choristers of 
America, as indeed they are. They 
sing with the greatest diversity of 
notes that is possible for a bird to 
change to. They may be bred up and 
will sing with us tame in cages; yet 
I never take any of their nests, altho' 
they build yearly in my fruit trees, be- 
cause I have their company, as much 
as If tame to tne singing part. Thev 
often sit upon our chimneys in sum- 
mer, there being then no fire in them, 
and sing the whole evening and most 
part of the night. They are always at- 



tending our dwellings, and feed upon 
mulberries and other berries and 
fruits, especially the 'Mechoacan-berry 
which grow® here very plentifully. 

There is another sort called the 
ground Mocking Bird. She is the same 
bigness and of a Cinnamom colour. 
This bird sings excellently well, but is 
not BO common amongst us as the for- 
mer. 

The Oat-Bird, so named because it 
makes a noise, exactly like young cats. 
They have a blackish head and an 
ash-coloured body, and have no other 
note that I know of. They are no big- 
ger than a Dark, but will fight any 
other great bird that I know of. 

The Cuckoo of Carolina may not 
properly be so called, because she never 
uses that cry; yet she is of the same 
bigness and feather and sucks the 
Sn>all birds' eggs, as the English 
Cuckoo does. 

A Blue-Bird is of the exact siame big- 
ness as a Robin Redbreast. The Cock 
has the same coloured breast as the 
Robin has, and his back and the rest 
of him are of as fine a blue as can 
possibly be seen in any part of the 
world. He has a cry and a whistle. 
They liide themselves all the winter. 

Bulfinches in America differ some- 
thing from those in Europe, in their 
feathers, tho' not in their bigness. I 
never knew any one tame, therefore 
know not what they might be brought 
to. They are good Birds to turn a 
Cage with bells, or if taught as the 
Bullfinch is, I believe would prove very 
docile. 

East India Bats or Musquito Hawks, 
are the bigness of a Cuckoo, and n>uch 
of the same colour. They are so called 
because the same sort is found in the 
East Indies. They appear only in Sum- 
mer, and live on Plies, which they 
catch in the Air, as Gnats, Musquitos, 
etc., etc. 

Martins are here of two sorts. The 



OF NORTH CAROI^INA. 



85 



first is the same as in England; the 
other as big as a Black-Bird. They 
have white throats and Breasts, with 
black Backs. The planters put Gourds 
on standing Poles, on purpose for these 
fowls to build in, because they are a 
very warlike bird, and beat the Crows 
from the Plantations, The Swift or 
Diveling, the same as in England. 
Swallows, the same as in England. 

The Humming Bird is the Miracle of 
all Winged Animals. He is feathered 
as a Bird and gets his living as the 
Bees, by sucking the Honey from 
each Flower. In some of the lareer 
sorts of Flowers he will bury himself, 
by diving to suck the bottom of it, so 
that he is quite covered, and often- 
times Children catch them in these 
flowers, and keep them alive for five or 
six days. They are of different Col- 
ours, the Cock differing from the Hen. 
The Cock is of a Green, Red, Aurora, 
and other Colours mixed. He is much 
less than a Wren and very nimble. His 
Nest is one of the Greatest pieces of 
Workmanship the whole tribe of 
Winged Animals can sheiw, it common- 
ly hanging on a single Briar, most ar- 
tistically woven, a small hole being 
left open to go in and out of. The 
Eggs are the bigness of Pease. 

The Tom Tit or Ox-Eye as in Eng- 
land. 

Of Oiwls we have two sorts; the 
smaller sort is like ours in England: 
the other sort is as big as a middling: 
Goose, and has a prodigious head. They 
make a fearful Hollowing in the Night 
time, like a man, whereby they often 
make strangers lose their way in the 
Woods. 

Scritch Owls, much the same as in 
Euroce. 

The Baltimore Bird, so called trow, 
Lord Baltimore, Proprietor of all 
Maryland, in which province many of 
them are found. They are the bigness 



of a Linnet, with Yellow Wings and 
beautiful in other Colours. 

Throstle, the same size and Feather 
as in Europe, but I never could hear 
any of them sing. 

The Weet, so called because he cries 
always before the rain; he resembles 
nearest the Fire-Tail. 

Cranes use the Savannas and Low 
Grounds and eat Frogs; they are above 
fiAe foot high, when extended; are of 
a Cream Color and have a Crim>.on 
Spot on the top of their Heads. Their 
Quills 'are excellent for Pens; their 
flesh make.'- the best broth, yet it is 
very hard to digest. Among them fre- 
quent Storks, which are here seen, and 
nowhere besides in Ameri'ca, that I 
have yet heard of. The Cranes are 
easily bred up tame, and are excellent 
in a garden to destroy Frogs, Worms 
and other Vermiin. 

The Snow Birds are the most numer- 
ous in the North Parts of America, 
where there are great Snows. They 
visit us pom.etimes in Carolina when 
the Weather is Harder than Ordinary. 
They are like the Stones Smach, or 
Wheat Ears, and are delicate Meat. 

The Yellow Wings are a very small 
Bird, of a Linnett's Colour, but Wings 
are as Yellow as Gold. They frequent 
high up in our Rivers and Creeks, and 
keep themselves in the thick bushes, 
very difficult to be seen in the Spriner. 
They sing very prettily. 

Whippoo-Will, so named because It 
makes those Words exiac';l\'. They are 
the Bigness of a Thrush, and call their 
notes under a Bush, on the Ground, 
hard to be seen, though you hear them 
eviir so plain. They are more Plentiful 
in Virginia than with us in Carolina, 
for I never heard but ore that was 
i\ear the Settlement, ani that was 
hard by an Irdian Town. 

Th'j Red Sparrow n&arest resembles 
a sparrow and is the most common 



86 



lawson's history 



small bird we have, therefore we call 
theiii so. They are brown, and red. 
Cinnamon Colour, striped. 

Of the S\A'ans we have two sorts; the 
one we call Trompeters because of a 
sort of Trompeting Noise they make. 
These are the largest sort we have; 
which come in great Flocks in the 
Winter, and stay, commonly in the 
fresh Rivers, until February, when the 
Spring comes on, when they go to the 
Lakes to breed. A Cygnet, that is a 
last year's Swan, is accounted a deii- 
Oate dish, as indeed it is. They are 
known by their Head and Feathers, 
which are not quite so white as Old 
ones. 

The sort of Swans called the Hoop- 
ers, are the least. They abide more in 
the Salt Water and are equally valua- 
ble, for Food, with the former. It is 
observtable that neither of these have 
a black piece of horny Flesh down the 
Head, and Bill, as they have in Eng- 
land. 

Of Geese, we have three sorts, dif- 
fering from each other only in size. 
Ours are not the comm»on geese that 
are in the Fens in England, 'but the 
others sorts with black Heads and 
Necks. 

The Gray Brant or Barnicle, is here 
very plentiful, as all other Water Fowl 
are, in the Winter Season. Thev are 
the same which they call Sarni'cles in 
Great Britain, and are a very p-ood 
Fowl, and eat well. 

There is also a White Brant which 
is very plentiful in America. The Bird 
is all over as White as Snow, exce»t 
the tips of his wings and those are 
Black. They eat the Roots of Sedare 
and Grass in the Marshes and Savan- 
nas, which they tear up like Hogs. The 
best way to kill these Fowl, is to bum 
a piece of Marsh or Savanna, and as 
soon as it is burnt they will come in 
great flocks to get the roots, where you 
kill what you please of them. They are 



as good meat as the other, only their 
feathers are stubbed and good for lit- 
tle. 

The Sea-Pie, or gray Curlue, is about 
the bigness of 'a very large Pigeon but 
longer. He has a long bill, as other 
Curlues have, which is the Colour of 
an English Owsel's, that is yellow, as 
his Legs are. He frequents the sand 
beaches of the sea-side, and when 
killed is inferior to no Fowl that I ever 
eat. 

Will Willet is so called from his crv, 
which he very exactly calls Will Wil- 
let when he flies. His Bill is like a 
Curlue's or Woodcock's, and he nas 
much such a body as the other, yet not 
so tall. He is good Meat. 

The great Gray Gulls are Good Meat, 
and as large as a Pullet. They lav 
large eggs, which are found in very 
great quantities, on the Islands in our 
Sound, in the months of June and July. 
The young Squabs are very good Vict- 
uals and often prove a relief to Travel- 
lers by Water, that have spent their 
Provisions. 

Old Wives are a black and White Pied 
Gull with extraordinary long Wine:s, 
and a golden Coloured Bill and Feet. 
He makes a dismal Noise as he flies, 
and ever and anon dips his Bill in the 
Salt Water. I never knew him eaten. 

The Sea Cock is a Gull that Crows at 
break of day, and in the Morning, ex- 
actly like a Dunghill Cock, which cry 
seems very pleasant in those uninhab- 
ited Places. He is never eaten. 

Of Curlues there are three sorts and 
vast numbrs of each. Thev have all 
long Bills, and differ neither in Colour, 
nor Shape, only in size. The largest is 
as big as a Good Hen, the smallest the 
bigness of a Snipe, or something big- 
ser. 

We have three sorts of Bitterns in 
Carolina. The flrst is the same as in 
England; the second of a deep brown, 
with a great topping, and a Yellowish 



OF NORTH CAROI.INA. 



87 



■white Throat and breast, and is lesser 
than the former; the last is no bifreer 
than a Wood-cock and near the Colour 
of the second. 

We have the sanme Herns as in Eng- 
land. White Herns are here very plen- 
tiful. I have seen above thirty sit on 
one tree at a time. They are as white 
as Milk and fly very sloiwly. 

The Water Pheasant, (very improp- 
erly called so) are a Water Fowl of 
the Duck kind, having a Topping of 
pretty Feathers, which sets them out. 
They are a very good Meat. 

The little Gray Gull is of a curious 
Gray Colour, and abides near the Sea. 
He is about the Bigness of a Whistling 
Plover, and a delicate food. 

We have the Little Dipper or Fisher, 
that catches fish, so dexterously, the 
same as you have in the Islands of 
Scilly. 

We have of the same Ducks and Mal- 
lards with green heads in great flocks. 
They are accounted the coarsest sort of 
Water Fowl. 

The Black Duck is fully as large as 
the other and good Meat. She stays 
with us all Summer and breeds. 
These are made tame by some and 
prove good Domesticks. 

We have another Duck that stays 
with us all the Summer. She has a 
great Topping, is pied and very beauti- 
ful. She builds her nest in a Wood- 
Pecker's Hole, very often sixty or sev- 
enty foot high. 

Towards the Mountains, in the hilly 
country, on the West Bnanch of the 
Cape Fear Inlet, we saw great flocks 
of pretty pied Ducks, that whistled as 
they flew or as they fed. I did not kill 
any of them. 

We killed a curious sort of Ducks in 
the Country of the Esaw Indians, 
which were of many beautiful colours. 
Their eyes were red, having a red cir- 
cle of flesh for their Eye-Lidis; and 
were very p^ood to eat. 



The Blue Wings are less than a 
Duck, but fine Meat. These are the 
first Fowls that appear to us in the 
fall of the Leaf, coming then in Kr?at 
flocks, as we suppose from Canadta, and 
the Lakes that lie behind us. 

Widgeons, the same as in Europa, are 
here in great plenty. 

We have the same Teal as In Eng- 
land, and another Sort that frequents 
the Fresh Water, and are always nod- 
ding their heads. They axe smaller 
than the common Teal, and dainty 
Meat. 

Shovellers (a sort of Duck) are gray 
with a black head. They are very good 
Fowl. 

Whistlers are so called fr'Oim the 
Whistling Noise that they make, as 
they fly. 

Black Flusterers; some call these Old 
Wives. They are as black as ink. The 
Cocks have white faces. They always 
remain In the midst of Rivers, and feed 
upon Drift Grass, Camels, or Sea Net- 
tles, They are the fattest Fowl I ever 
saM , and sometimes so heavy with 
flesh, that they cannot rise out of the 
water. They make an odd sort of noise 
when they fly. What meat they are 
I oould never learn. Some call these 
the Great Bald Coot. 

The Wild Turkeys I should have 
spoken of when I spoke of the i^and 
Fowl. There are great Flocks of these 
in Carolina. I have seen about five 
hundred of these in a Flock; some of 
these very large. I have never weigh- 
ed any myself, but have been inform- 
ed of one that weighed nearly sixty 
pound. I have seen half a Turkey feed 
eight hungry men two meals. Some- 
times the wild breed with the tame 
ones, which they reckon breeds them 
very hardy, as I believe it must. I see 
no manner of difference betwixt the 
wild Turkies and the Tame ones; only 
the wild are ever of one Colour, viz a 



88 



i^awson's history 



dark gray or brown, and are excellent 
food. 

They feed on Acorns, Huckle-Berries, 
and many other >sorts of Berries that 
Carolina affords. The Eggs taken 
from the Nest arnd hatched under a 
Hen, will yet retain a Wild Nature, and 
commonly leave you, and run wild at 
last, and will tiever be got into a house 
to roost, but will always perch on 
some high tree hard-by the House and 
separate themselves from the tame 
sort, although (at the same time) they 
tread and breed together. I have been 
informed that if you will take these 
wild eggs just on the point of being 
hatched, and dip them (for some small 
time) in a Bowl of Milk-warm Water, 
it will take off their wild nature and 
make them as tame and domestic as 
the others. Sonne Indians have brousrht 
these wild breeds hatched at home to 
be a Decoy to bring others to roost 
near their cabins, which they have 
shot. But to return to the Water- 
Fowl. 

Fishermen are like a Duck, but have 
a narrow Bill, with Sets of Teeth. They 
live on very small fish which they 
catch as they go along. They taste 
fishy. The best way to order them, is 
upon occasion, to pull out the oil box 
from the rump, and then bury them 
five or six hours underground. Then 
they become tolerable. 

Of Divers there are two sorts, the 
one pied and the other gray; both good 
meat. 

Raft-Fowl include all the sorts of 
Ducks and small Teal, that go in 
Rafts along the Shoar and are of sev- 
eral sorts that we know no name for. 

Bull-Neckis are a whitish fowl about 
the bigness of a Brant; they come to 
us after Christmas in very great flocks 
In all our Rivers. They are a very 
good Meat, but hard to kill because 
hard to oome near. They will dive and 
endure a good deal of shot. 



Red Head's, a lesser Fowl than Bull 
Necks, are very sweet food and plen- 
tiful in our Rivers and Creeks. 

Tropick-Birds are a white Mew, witli 
a forked Tail. They are so called be- 
cause they are plentifully met withal 
under the Tropicks, and thereabouts. 

The Pellican of the Wilderness can- 
not toe the same as ours; this being a 
Water Fowl with a great natural Wen 
or Pouch under his throat, in which he 
keeps his prey of fish which he lives 
on. He is Webb-Footed like a Goose, 
and shaped like a Duck, but is a very 
large Fowl, bigger than a Goose. He 
is never eaten as Food; they make To- 
bacco Pouches of his Maw. 

Cormorants are very well known in 
some parts of England; we have great 
flocks of them with us, especially 
against the Herring run, which is in 
March and April; then they sit upon 
Logs of Dry Wood in the Water and 
catch the Fish. 

The Gannet is a large white Fowl, 
having one part of his Wing black; He 
lives on Fish as the Pellican. His Fat 
or Grease is as yellow as Saffron, and 
the best thing known to preserve Fire- 
Arms from Rust. 

Shear- Waters are a longer Fowl than 
a Duck; some of them lie on the Coast 
while others range the Seas all over. 
Sometimes they are met five hundred 
Leagues from Land. They live without 
drinking any fresh water. 

We have a great pied Gull, black and 
white, which seems to have a black 
Hood over his head; these lay very fair 
Eggs which are good; as are the young 
ones in the Season. 

Marsh Hen much the same as in Eu- 
rope, only she makes another sort of 
Noise and shriller. 

Blue-Peters, the same as you call 
Water Hens in England, are here very 
numerous and not regarded for eat- 
ing. 

The Sand Birds are about the Big- 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



89 



ness of a Lark, and frequent our Sand 
Beaches; they are a dainty food if you 
will bestow Time and Ammunition to 
kill them. 

Runnerrs are so called because if you 
run after them they will run along the 
Sand and not offer to get up; so that 
you may often drive them together to 
shoot at as you please. They are a 
pleasant small bird. 

Tutcock is a sort of Snipe, but sucks 
tiot his food; they are almost the same 
as in England. 

Swaddle-Bills are a sort of an Ash- 
Coloured Duck, which have an extraor- 
dinary broad bill, and are good meat; 
they are not common as the others 
are. 

The Mew is the same as in England, 
being a white slender bird with Red 
Felt. 

The Shel-Drakes are the same as in 
England. 

The Bald, or White Faces are a good 
Fowl. They camnot dive, and are easily 
shotten. 

Water-Witch or Ware-Coots, are a 
Fowl with Down and no Feathers; 
they dive Incomparably, so that no 
Fowler can hit them. They can neith- 
er fly nor go, but get into the Fish- 
wares and cannot fly over the Rods, 
and S'O are taken. 

Thus have we give an account of 
what Fowl has come to our knowledge, 
since our abode in Carolina; except 
some that perhaps have slipped our 
memory and so are left out of the cat- 
alogue. Proceed we now to treat of the 
Inhabitants of the Watery Element, 
which tho' we can as yet do very im- 
perfectly, yet we are willing to oblige 
the Curious with the best Account that 
it is in our Power to present them with- 
al. 

The Fish in the salt, and fresh Wa- 
ters of Carolina are: 

Whales, several sorts. Thrashers, 
Divel-Fish. Sword Fish. Crampois. 



Bottle-Noses. Porpoises. Sharks, two 
sorts. Dog-Fish. Spanish Mackerel. 
Cavallies. Boneto's. Blue-Fish. Drum, 
Red. Drum-Fish, black. Angel Fish. 
Bass or Rock Fish. Sheeps-Heads. 
Plaice. Flounder. Soles. Mullets. 
Shads. Fat Backs. Guard, white. 
Guard, Green. Scate or Stingray. 
Thornback. Congar-Eels. Lamprey- 
Eels. Eels. Sun-Fish. Toad-Fish. 
Sea-Tench. Trouts of the Salt Water. 
Crocus. Herring. Smelts. Breams. 
Taylors. 

Fresh- Water Fish are: 

Sturgeon. Pike. Trouts. Gudgeon. 
Pearch, English. Pearch, White. 
Pearch, brown or Welsh Men. Pearch, 
flat and mottled, or Irishmen. Pearch, 
small and flat with red ^ots, called 
Red Robins. Carp. Roach. Dace. 
Loaches. Sucking-Fish. Cat-Fish. 
Grindals. Old Wives. Fountain-Fish. 
White Fish. 

The Shell-Fish are: 

Large Crabs called Stone Crabs. 
Small Flat Crarbs. Oysters, Great and 
Small. Cockles. Clams. Muscles. 
iConks. Skellop. Man of Noses. Peri- 
winkles or Wllks. Sea-Snail-Horns. 
Fidlars. Runners. Spanish or Pearl 
Oysters. Flattings. Tortois and Tere- 
bin, accounted for among the Insects. 
Finger Fish. Shrimps. 

Fresh-Water Craw-Fish and Mus- 
cles. 

Whales are very numerous on the 
coast of North Carolina, from which 
they make Oil, Bone, etc., to the great 
advantage of those inhabiting the Sand 
Banks, along the Ocean, where these 
Whales come ashore, none being struck 
or killed with a Harpoon in this Place, 
as they are to the Northward or else- 
where; all those Fish being found dead 
on the Shoar, most commonly by those 
that inhabit the banks and sea-side 
where they dwell, for the Intent and 
for the Benefit of the Wrecks, which 
sometimes fall in upon that Shoar. 



90 



lawson's history 



Of these Monsters there are four 
sorts; the first, which is most choice 
and rich, is the Sperma-Ceti Whale 
from which the Sperma-Ceti Oil is ta- 
ken. These are rich prizes; but I nev- 
er heard of but one found on this coast, 
which was near Currituck Inlet. 

The other sorts are of a prodigious 
bigness. Of these the Bone and Oil 
is made; the Oil being the Blubber or 
Oily flesh, or Fat of that Fish boiled. 
These differ not only in Colour, some 
being pied, others not, but much 'n 
shape, one being called a Bottle-Nosed 
Whale, the other a Shovel-Nose, which 
is as different as a Salmon from a 
Sturgeon. These Fish seldom come 
ashore with their Tongues in their 
heads, the Thrasher, (which ie the 
■whale's mortal enemy wheresoever he 
meets him) eating that out of his head, 
as soon ais he and the Sword-fish have 
killed him. For when the Whale- 
catchers (in other parts) kill any of 
these Fish, they eat the Tongues and 
esteem it an excellent dish. 

There is another sort of these Whales 
or great Fish, tho' not common. I nev- 
er knew of above one of that sort, 
found on the Coast of Carolina, and he 
was contrary in shape to all others 
ever found before him; being sixty foot 
in length and not aibove three or four 
foot in diameter. Some Indians in 
America will go out to Sea, and get 
upon a Whale's back, and peg or plug 
his Spouts and so kill him. 

The Thrashers are large fish, and 
mortal enemies to the Whale, as I have 
said before. They make good Oil; but 
are seldom found. 

The Divel Fish lies at soine of our 
Inlets, and, as near as I can describe 
him, is shaped like a Scate, or Stin- 
gray; only he has on his head a pair 
of very thick strong Horns, and is of 
a nxinstrous Size and Strength; for 
this Fish has been known to weigh 
a Sloop's anchor, and run with the 



Vessel a league or two and bring bep 
back against Tide, to almost the seme 
Place. Doubtless, they may afford 
good Oil; but I havfe no experience of 
any Profits which arise from them. 

The Sword-Fish is another of the 
Whale's Enemies, and joins with the 
Thrasher to destroy thiat Monster. Af- 
ter they overcome hin*, they eat his 
Tongue, as I have said before, and the 
Whale drives ashore. 

Crampois is a large Fish and by sozne 
accounted a young Whale; but it is not 
so; neither is it more than ;'5 or 30 foot 
long. They spout as the Whale does, 
and when taken yield good Oil. 

Bottle-Noses are between Crampois 
and Porpois, and lie near the Sound- 
ings. They are never seen to swim leis- 
urely, ©s sometimes all other fish do, 
but are continually running after their 
prey in great Shoals, like wild Horses, 
leaping now and then above the Wa- 
ter. The French esteem them good 
Food, and eat them both fresh and 
salt. 

Porpoises are frequent, all over the 
Oceans and Rivers that are Salt; nay, 
we have a Fresh Water Lake in the 
Great Sound of North Carolina, that 
has Porpoises in it. And several other 
sorts of unknown fish, as the Indians 
say, that we are wholly strangers to. 
As to the Porpoises, they make good 
Oil; they prey upon other fish, as 
Drums, yet never are known to take 
a Bait, so as to be catched with a hook. 

Of sharks there are two sorts, one 
called Paracooda-Noses; the other 
Shovel-Noses; they cannot take their 
Prey before they turn themselves on 
their Backs; wherefore some iNegroes 
and others that can swim and dive 
well, go naked into the Water with a 
knife in their Hand, and fight the 
Shark and very commionly kill him, or 
wound him so that he turns tail and 
runs away. Their livers make good Oil 
to dress Leathers withal; the bones 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



91 



found in their Head are said to hasten 
the Birth, and ease the Stone, by 
bringing it away. Their Meat is eaten 
in scarce times, but I never could away 
with it, though a great lover of Fish. 
Their Back-Bone is of one entire thick- 
ness. Of the Bones or Joints I have 
known buttons made, which serve well 
enough in scarce times or remote 
places. 

The Dog-Fish are a small sort of the 
Shark kind; and are Caught with the 
Hook and Line, fishing for Drums. 
They say they are good Meat, but we 
have so many other sorts of delicate 
Meat, that I shall hardly ever miake 
Tryal what they are. 

Spanish Mackerel are in colour and 
shape, like the common Mackerel, only 
much thicker. They are c*aught with 
Hook and Line at the Inlets, and 
sometimes out a little way at sea. They 
are very fine hard fish and of good 
taste. They are about two foot long, 
or better. 

Oavallies, are taken in the same 
places. They are of a brownish colour, 
having exceedingly small scales, and 
a very thick skin. They are as 
firm a Fish as ever I saw, wherefore 
will keep sweet (in the hot Weather) 
two days, when others will stink in less 
than half a day unless salted. They 
ought to be scaled as soon as taken, 
otherwise you rrkust pull off the skin 
and scales when boiled; the Skin being 
the choicest of the fish. The Meat, 
which is w'hite and large, is dressed 
with the fish. 

Boneto's are a very palatable Fish, 
and near a yard long. They haunt the 
Inlets and Water near the Ocean; and 
are killed with the Harpoon and Fish- 
gig. 

The Blue-Fish is one of our best fish- 
es, and alwaj^ very fat. They are as 
long as a salmon, and indeed I think, 
full as good meat. These Fish come 
(in the fall of the year) generally after 



there has been one black frost, when 
there appear great shoals of them. 
The Hatteras Indians, and others, run 
into the Sands of the Sea, and strike 
them, tho' some of these fish have 
caused Sickness and violent burnings 
after eating of them, which is found to 
proceed from the Gall that is broken in 
some of them, and is hurtful. Some- 
times many cartloads of these are 
thrown and left dry on the sea-side, 
which comes by their eager pursuit of 
the small Fish, in which they run 
thennselves ashore, and the Tide leav- 
ing them, they cannot recover the Wa- 
ter again. They are called Blue-Fish 
'because they are of that Colour, and 
have a forked Tail and are shaped like 
a Dolphin. 

The Red Drum is a large fish, much 
larger than the Blue-Fish. The body 
of this is good, firm Meat but the head 
is beyond all Fish I ever met withal 
for an excellent dish. We have great- 
er number of these fish than of any 
other sort. People go down and catch 
as many barrels full as they please, 
with Hook and Line, especially at 
every young flood, when they bite. 
These are salted upi and transported to 
other colonies, that are bare of Provis- 
ions. 

Black Drums are a thicker-made fish 
than the Red Drums, being shaped like 
a fat pig; they are a very good fish, 
but not so common with us as to the 
iNorthward. 

The Angel-Fish is shaped like an 
English Bream. He is so called for his 
golden colour which shines all around 
his head and belly. This is accounted 
a very good fish, as are most in these 
parts. The Bermudians have the same 
sort of fish, and esteem them very 
much. 

Bass or Rock is both in Salt and 
Fresh Water; when young he much re- 
sembles a Grayling, but grows to the 
size of a large Cod-Fish. They are 



92 



lawson's history 



very good, firm fish. Their Heads are 
fouced, and make a noble Dish, if 
large. 

Sheeps-Head has the general Vogue 
of being the choicest Fish in this place. 
Indeed it is a very delicate Pish and 
well relished, vet I think there ai'e sev- 
eral others full as good as the Stieeps- 
Head. He is much of the bigness of 
the Angel Fish, and flat as he is. They 
sometimes weigh two or three pound 
•weight. This Fish has teeth like a 
sheep and is therefore so called. 

Plaice are here very large and plen- 
tiful, being the same as in England. 

Flounders should have gone amongst 
the Fresh-Water Fish, because they 
are caught here in great plenty. 

Soles are a flsh that we have but 
lately discovered; they are as good as 
In any other Part, 

Mullets are the same as in England, 
and great plenty in all places where the 
water is salt or brackish. 

Shads are .a sweet fish, but very 
bony; they are very plentiful at some 
seasons. 

Fat-Backs are a small flsh like Mul- 
lets, but the fattest ever known. They 
put nothing into the pan to fry these. 
They are excellent sweet food. 

The white Guard Fish Is shaped al- 
miost like a Pike, but slender; his 
Mouth has a long small bill set with 
teeth, in which he catches small fish; 
his Scales are knit together like ar- 
mour. When they dress him they skin 
him, taking off scales and skin togeth- 
er. His meat is very white and rather 
looks like Flesh than flsh. The English 
account them no good flsh, but the In- 
dians do. The Gall of this fish is 
green and a violent Cathartick, if taken 
Inwardly. 

The Green Guard is shaped, in all re- 
spects, like the other save that his 
scales are very small and fine. He is 
indifferent Meat. His bones when 
boiled or fry'd, remain as green as 



grass. The same sort of fish comes 
from before the Mackerel in England. 

Scate or Stingray, the same as In 
England, and very common; but the 
great plenty of other fish makes these 
not regarded, for few or none eat them 
in Carolina, tho' they are almost at 
every one's door. 

Thorn Backs are the same as in Eng- 
land. They are not so common as the 
Scate and Whip-Rays. 

Congar Eels always remain in the 
Salt-Water; they are much more 
known in the northern parts of Amer- 
ica than with us. 

Lampreys are not common; I never 
saw but one. which was large, and was 
naught by the Indians in a Ware. They 
would not eat him but gave him to me. 

Eels are nowhere in the World bet- 
ter or more plentiful than in Carolina. 

Sun-Fish are flat and rounder than a 
Bream, and are reckoned a flne-tasted 
Fish, and not without a reason. They 
are much the size of Angel-Fish. 

Toad Fish are nothing but a Skin 
full of Prickles, and a few bones; they 
are as ugly as a Toad and are pre- 
served to look upon, and good for noth- 
ing else. 

Sea-Tench are taken by a bait near 
the Inlet, or out at Sea a little Way. 
They are blackish and exactly like a 
Tench, except in the Back Fins, which 
have Prickles like a Pearch. They are 
as good, if not better than any Tench. 

Trouts of the Salt Water are exact- 
ly shaped like the Trouts in Europe, 
having blackish, not red spots. They 
are in the Salts and are not red with- 
in, but white, yet a very good Fish. 
They are so tender that if they are m 
or near fresh water, and a sudden 
frost comes they are benum'd, and 
float on the Surface of the Water as if 
dead; and then they take up Canoe- 
Loads of them. If you put them Into 
Warm Water they presently recover. 

The Crocus is a Flsh, in shape like a 



OF NORTH CAROUNA. 



93 



Pearch, and in shape like a Whiting. 
They croke and make a noise in your 
hand when taken with a hook or net. 
They are very good. 

The Herring in Carolina are not 
so large as in Europe. They spawn 
there in March and April, running up 
the fresh rivers, and small fresh runs 
of water in great shoals, where they 
are taken. They become red if salted; 
and dress'd with Vinegar and Oil, re- 
semble an Anchovy very much; for 
they are far beyond an English Her- 
ring when pickled. 

Smelts are the same ©s in England. 
They lie down a great way in the 
Sound, towards the Ocean, where, (at 
some certain seasons) are a great many 
very fine ones. 

The Fresh Wtater affords no such 
Bream as in England, that I have as 
yet discovered; yet there is a Sea 
Bream which is a flat and thin Fish, as 
the European Bretams are. 

The Taylor is a Fish about the big- 
ness of a Trout, but of a bluish green 
colour, with a forked Tail such as a 
Mackerel has. They are a delicate 
fish and plentiful in our salt-waters. 
Infinite numbers of other species will 
be hereafter discovered, as yet un- 
known to us; although I have seen and 
eaten of several other sorts of fish, 
which are nowhere mentioned, because 
as yet, they have no certain names as- 
signed to them. Therefore I shall treat 
no further of our Salt-Water Fish, but 
proceed to the Fresh. 

The first of these is the Sturgeon, of 
which we have plenty, all the fresh 
parts of our rivers being stored with 
them. The Indians upon and towards 
the Heads and Falls of our Rivers 
strike a great many of these and eat 
them; yet the Indians near the Salt- 
Waters will not eat them. I have seen 
an Indian strike one of these Fish sev- 
en Feet long, and leave him on the 
Sands to be eaten by the Gulls. In 



'May they run up towards the heads of 
the Rivers, where you see several hun- 
dreds of them in one day. The Indians 
have another way to take them, which 
is by Nets at the End of a Pole. The 
bones of these fish make good nutnieg- 
graters. 

The Jack, Pike or Pickerel, is exactly 
the same in Carolina as they are In 
England. Indeed I never saw this fish 
so big and large in America, as I have 
seen in Europe, these with us being sel- 
dom above two foot long, as far as I 
have yet seen. They are very plentiful 
with us in Carolina, all our creeks and 
Ponde being full of them. I once took 
out of a Ware above three hundred of 
these Fish at a time. 

Trouts, the same in England as in 
Carolina; but ours are a great way up 
the Rivers and Brooks that are fresh, 
having Swift Currents and Stony and 
Gravelly Bottoms. 

The same Gudgeons as in Europe are 
found In America. The same sort of 
Pearch as arc in England we have like- 
wise in Carolina, tho' I think ours nev- 
er rise to be so large as in England. 

We have a White Pearch, so called 
because h? is of a silver Colour, oth- 
erwise like the English Pearch. These 
we have in great plenty, and they are 
preferable to the red ones. 

The Brown Pearch, which some call 
Welsh-Men, are the largest sort of 
Pearches that we have, and very firm, 
white and sweet fish. These grow to 
be larger than any Carp, and are very 
frequent in every Creek and Pond. 

The flat or mottled Pearch are shap- 
ed almost like a Bream. They are 
called Irishmen, being freckled or mot- 
tled with black or blue spots. They are 
never taken anywhere but In the fresh 
water. They are a good fish, but I do 
not approve of them, no more than of 
the other sorts of Pearch. 

We have another sort of Pearch 
which is the least sort of all, but as 



94 



lawson's history 



good meat as any. These are distin- 
guished from the other sorts, by the 
nsLToe of Round-Robins, being flat and 
very round shaped; they are spotted 
with red spots, very beautiful, and are 
easily oaught with an Angle, as all the 
other sort of Pearchee are. 

We have the same Carp as you have 
in England, and the same Roach, only 
scarce so large. Dtace are the same as 
yours, too, but neither of these so large 
nor plentiful as with you. Loach are 
the same as in England. Sucking Fish 
are the nearest in Taste and shiapie to a 
Barbel, only they have no barbs. 

Catfish are round, blackish fish, with 
a Great Flat He*ad, a wide Mouth, and 
no scales. They sometimes resemble 
Eels in taste. Both this sort and an- 
other, that frequents the salt water, 
are very plentiful. 

Grindals are a long, scaled fish with 
small eyes; and frequent Ponds, Lakes 
and Slow Running Creeks and Swamps. 
They are a soft, sorry Fish, and good 
for nothing, though some eat them for 
good Fish. 

Old Wives are a Bright, Scaly Fish 
which frequent the Swamps and Fresh 
Runs; they seem to be between an 
English Roach and a Bream, and eat 
much like the latter. The Indians kill 
abundance of these and barbakue 
them, until they are crisp, then trans- 
port them in Wooden Hurdles, to their 
Towns and Quarters. 

The Fountain Fish are a white sort 
which breed in the Clear Running 
Springs and Fountain waters, where 
the clearness thereof makes them very 
difficult to be taken. I cannot say how 
good they are; because I have never as 
yet tasted of them. 

The White Fish are very large; some 
being two foot and a half long or more. 
They are found a great way up in the 
Freshen of the Rivers; and are firm 
meat and an extraordinary well relish- 
ed Fish. 



Barbouts and Millers-Thumbs, are 
the very same here in all respects, as 
they are in England. What more are 
in the fresh waters we have not yet 
discovered, but are satisfied that we 
are not acquainted with one-third part 
thereof; for we are told by the In- 
dians of a great many strange and un- 
couth shapes and sorts of fish which 
they have found in the Lakes laid down 
in my charts. However, as we can 
give no further account of these than 
by Hear-say, I proceed to treat of the 
Shell-fish that are found in the Salt 
Water eo far as they have already 
come to our knowledge. 

The large Crabs which we call Stone- 
Crabs are the same sort as in England, 
having black tips at the end of their 
claws. These are plentifully met with- 
al, down in Core Sound, and the South 
Parts of North Carolina. 

The smaller flat Crabs I look upon to 
be the sweetest of all species. They are 
the breadth of a lusty man's hand, or 
rather larger. These are innumerable, 
lying in most prodigious quantities, all 
over the Salts of Carolina. They are 
taken not only to eat, but are the best 
bait for all sorts of fish, that live in the 
Salt Water. These Fish are mischie- 
ous to night hooks, because they get 
away all the bait from the Hooks. 

Oysters great and small are found al- 
most in every Creek and Gut of Sea- 
water, and are very good and well 
relished. The large oysters are excel- 
lent pickled. 

The one Cockle in Carolina is as big 
as five or six in England. They are 
often thrown upon the sands on the 
Sound Side, where the Gulls are al- 
ways ready to open and eat them. 

Clams are a sort of Cockles, only dif- 
fering in shell, which is thicker and not 
streaked or ribbed. These are found 
throughout all the Sound and saltwater 
Ponds. The meat is the same for Look 
and Taste as the Cockle. These make 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



95 



an excellent strong Broth, and eat we;l 
either roasted or pickled. 

The Muscles in Carolina have a very 
large shell, striped with dents. They 
grow by the sides of ponds and creeks 
in Salt- Water, wherein you may get as 
many of them as you please. I do not 
like them so well as the English 
muscle, which is no good Shell-Fish. 

Some of the Shells of the Conks are 
as large as a man's Hand, but the less- 
er sort are the best meat, and those 
not extraordinary. They are shaped 
like the end of a Horse's Yard, uf 
their shells the Peak or Wampum is 
made, which is the richest commodity 
amongst the Indians. They breed like 
a long thing shaped like a snake, but 
containing a sort of joints in the hol- 
lowness whereof are thousands of small 
Conks, no bigger than small grains of 
pepper. 

The Skellops, if well dressed, are a 
pretty shell fish; but to eat them roast- 
ed without any other addition, in my 
judgment are too luscious. 

Man of Noses are a Shell Fish com- 
monly found amongst us. They are 
valued for increasing vigour in Man, 
and making barren Women fruitful; 
but I think they have no need of that 
fish; for the Women in Carolina are 
fruitful enough without their help. 

Wilks or Periwinkles are not so large 
here as in the Islands of Scilly, and in 
other parts of Europe, though very 
sweet. 

The Sea Snail Horn is large and very 
good Meat; they are excellently shaped, 
as other Snail Horns are. 

Fidlars are a sort of small crabs, that 
lie in holes in the marshes. The Rac- 
coons eat them very much. I never 
knew any one try whether they were 
good meat or not. 

Runners live chiefly on the Sand, but 
sometimes run into the Sea. They have 
Holes in the Sand Beaches and are a 
whitish sort of a Crab. Though 



small they run as fast as a Man, and 
are good for nothing but to look at. 

Spanish Oysters have a very thin 
Shell, and rough on the outside. They 
are very good shell-fish and so large 
that half a dozen are enough to satisfy 
an hungry stomacn. 

The Flattings are enclosed in a broad 
thin shell, the whole fish being Flat. 
They are inferior to no shell-fish this 
country affords. 

Finger Fish are very plentiful in this 
country; they are of the length of a 
Man's finger, and lie in the bottom of 
the Water, about one or two feet deep. 
They are very good. 

Shrimps are here very plentiful and 
good, and are to be taken with a 
small box net in great quantities. 

The small Cockles are about the big- 
ness of the largest English Cockles, and 
differ nothing from them, unless in the 
shells, which are striped cross-wise as 
well as long-wise. 

The Freshwater Shell Fish are: 

Muscles, which are eaten by the In- 
dians, after five or six hours' boiling to 
make them tender, and then are good 
for nothing. 

Craw-Fish in the Brooks and small 
rivers of water, amongst the Tuskeruro 
Indians, and up higher, are found very 
plentifully, and as good as any in the 
world. 

And thus I have gone through the 
several species of fish, so far as they 
have come to my knowledge, in the 
eight years that I have lived in Caro- 
lina. I should have made a larger dis- 
covery when travelling so far towards 
the Mountains, and amongst the Hills, 
had it not been in the Winter Season, 
which was improper to make any in- 
quiry into any of the species before re- 
cited. Therefore, as my intent was, I 
proceed to what remains of the Pres- 
ent State of Carolina, having already- 
accounted for the Animals and Vegeta- 
bles as far as this volume should al- 



96 



lawson's history 



low of; whereby the remainder, though 
not exactly known, may yet be guessei 
at if we consider what Latitude Caro- 
lina lies in, which reaches from 29 to 
36 degrees 30 min. Northern Latitude, 
as I have before observed. Which 
Latitude is as Fertile and Pleasant as 
any in the World, as well for the pro- 
duce of Minerals, Frruit, Grain and 
Wine, as other rich Commodities. And 
indeed, all the experiments that have 
been made in Carolina, of the Fertility 
and Natural Advantages of the Coun- 
try, exceed all expectation, as affording 
some Commodities, which other places 
in the same Latitude do not. As for 
Minerals, as they are subterraneous 
IProducts, so, in all new countries, they 
are the species that are L.3t discover- 
ed; and especially in Carolina, where 
the Indians never look for anything 
lower than the Superficies of the 
Earth, being a race of Men the least 
addicted to delving of any People that 
inhabit so fine a country as Carolina is. 
As good, if not better mines than those 
the Spanish possess in America, lie full 
west from us; and I am certain that we 
have as Mountainous Land, and as 
great probability of having Rich Min- 
erals in Carolina, as any of those parta 
that are already found to be so rich 
therein. But, waiving this subject, ta 
some other opportunity, I shall now 
give you some observations in general, 
concerning Carolina; which are that 
first it lies as convenient for Trade as 
any of the Plantations in America; that 
we have plenty of Pitch, Tar, Skins of 
Deer, and Beeves, Furs, Rice, Wheat, 
Rye, Indian Grain, sundry sort of 
Pulse, Turpentine, Rozin, Masts, Yards, 
Planks and Boards, Staves and Lum- 
ber. Timber of many common sorts, fit 
for use. Hemp, Flax, Barley, Oats, 
Buckwheat, Beef, Pork, Tallow, Hides, 
Whalebone and Oil, Wax, Cheese, But- 
ter, Etc., besides Drugs, Dyes, Fruit, 
Silk, Cotton, Indico, Oil and Wine that 



we need not doubt of as soon as we 
make a regular essay, the Country be- 
ing adorned with Pleasant Meadows, 
Rivers, Mountains, Valleys, Hills and 
blessed with wholesome pure Air, espe- 
cially a little backward from the Sea, 
where the wild Beasts inhabit, none of 
which are voracious. The Men are ac- 
tive, the Women fruitful to admiration, 
every house being full of children, and 
several women that have come hither 
barren, have presently proved fruitful. 
There cannot be a richer Soil, no place 
abounding more in Flesh and Fowl, 
both wild and tame, besides Fish, 
Fruit, Grain, Cider, and many other 
pleasant Liquors; together with several 
other necessaries for Life and Trade, 
that are daily found out as 
new discoveries are made. The 
Stone and Gout seldom trouble us; 
the Consumption we are wholly 
strangers to, no place affording 
a better remedy for that distemper, 
than Carolina. For Trade, we lie so 
near to Virginia that we have the ad- 
vantage of their Convoys; as also let- 
ters from thence at two or three Days 
at the most; and from some places in 
a few hours. Add to this that the 
great number of Ships that come with- 
in those Capes for Virginia and Mary- 
land take off our Provisions, and give 
us Bills of Exchange for England, 
which is Sterling Money. The Planters 
in Virginia and Maryland are forced 
to do the same, the great quantities 
of tobacco that are planted there mak- 
ing provisions scarce, and Tobacco is 
a commodity sometimes so low as to 
bring nothing, whereas provisions and 
naval stores never fail of a market. Be- 
sides, where these are raised, in such 
plenty as in North Carolina, there al- 
ways appears good housekeeping, and 
plenty of all manner of delicate eat- 
ables. For instance the Pork of Caro- 
lina is very good, the young pigs, fed 
on Peaches, Maiz, and such other nat- 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



97 



ural Produce, being some of the sweet- 
est Meat that the World affords, as 
is acknowledged by all the strangers 
that have been there. And as for the 
beef, in Pampticough, and the South- 
ward parts it proves extraordinary. We 
have not only Provisions plentiful, but 
Cloaths of our own manufacture, which 
are made, and daily increase, Cotton, 
Wool, Hemp and Flax, being of our 
own growth, and the Women to be 
highly commended for their Industry 
in Spinning, and ordering their house- 
wifry to so great advantage as they 
generally do; which is much more easy 
by reason this happy Climate, visited 
with so mild Winters, is much warmer 
than the Northern Plantations, which 
saves abundance of Cloaths, fewer 
serving our necessities, and those of our 
Servants; but this is not all, for we 
can go out with our Commodities, to 
any other Part of the West Indies, 
or elsewhere in the Depth of Winter; 
whereas those in New England, New 
York, Pennsylvania, and the Colonies 
to the northward of us, cannot stir 
for ice, but are fast locked in their 
Harbours. Besides we can trade with 
South Carolina and pay no duties or 
customs, no more than their own Ves- 
sels, both North and South being under 
the Lords- Proprietors. We have, as I 
observed before, another great advan- 
tage in not being a Frontier, and so 
continually being alarmed by the ene- 
my; and what has been accounted a 
Detriment to us, proves one of the 
greatest Advantages any people could 
wish, which is our Country's being 
faced with a Sound near ten Leagues 
over in some places, through which, al- 
though there be water enough for as 
large ships to come in at, as in any 
part 'litlierto seated in North Carolina; 
yet the difficulty of that Sound to 
strangers hinders them from attempt- 
ing any hostilities against us; and, at 



the same time, if we consider the ad- 
vantages thereof, nothing can appear 
to be a better situation, than to be 
fronted with such a Bulwark, which 
secures us from our Enemies. Further- 
more our distance from the sea hinders 
us from two curses, which attend 
most other parts of America, viz; Mus- 
keetos, and the Worm-biting, which 
ects ship's bottoms out, whereas at 
Bath-Town there is no such thing 
known, and as for Muskeetos, they 
hinder us from as little rest ts they 
do in England. Add to this the unac- 
countable quantities of Fish this Great 
Water or Sound supplies us withal, 
whenever we take the Pains to fish 
for them; Advantages I have no where 
withal met with in America, except 
here. As for the Climate, we enjoy a 
very wholesome and serene sky, a pure 
and Serene Air, the Sun seldom miss- 
ing to give us his Daily Blessing, un- 
less now and then on a Winter's Day, 
which is not so often; and when 
Cloudy, the first Appearance of a 
North West Wind clears the Horizon, 
and restores the Light of the Sun; the 
Weather in Summer is very Pleasant, 
the Hotter Months being refreshed 
with continual breezes of cool reviving 
Air, and the Spring being as pleasant 
and beautiful as in any place I ever 
was in. The Winter, most commonly 
is so mild, that it looks like an Au- 
tumn, being now and then attended 
with thin North West Winds, that are 
sharp enough to regulate English Con- 
stitutions, and free them from a great 
many dangerous Distempers, that a 
single summer afflicts them withal, 
nothing being wanted as to the natural 
ornaments and blessings of a country, 
that conduce to make reasonable men 
happy. And for those that are other- 
wise, they are so much their own Ene- 
mies, where they are, that they will 
scarce ever hi' any one's Friends or 



98 



i^awson's history 



their own, when they are transplanted; 
so it's much better for all sides that 
they remain as they are. Not but that 
there are several Good People, that 
upon just grounds may be uneasy un- 
der their present Burdens; and such 
I would advise to remove to the place 
I have been treating- of, where they 
may enjoy their Peace and Religion, 
and Peaceably eat the Fruits of their 
Labour, and drink the Wine of their 
own Vineyards, without the alarms of 
a troublesome Worldly life. If a man 
be a botanist, here is a plentiful Field 
of plants to divert him in. If he be a 
gardener and delight in that pleasant 
and happy life, he will meet with a 
Climate and Soil that will "further pro- 
mote his designs in as great measure, 
as any man can wish for; and as for 
the Constitution of this Government, it 
is so mild and easy in respect to the 
Properties and Liberties of a Subject, 
that without reheasing the Particulars, 
I say once for all, . it is the mildest 
and best established government in the 
world, and the Place where any Man 
may peaceably enjoy his own, without 
being invaded by another. Rank and 
Superiority ever giving Place to Justice? 
and Equity, which is the golden rule 
that every country ought to be built 
on, and regulated by. Besides, it is 
worthy our notice, that this province 
has been settled, and continued the 
most free from Insults, and Barbari- 
ties of the Indians of any Colony that 
was ever seated in America; which 
must be esteemed as a particular Provi- 
dence of God handed down from Heav- 
en to these People; especially when we 
consider how irregularly they settled 
North Carolina, yet how undisturbed 
they have remained, free from any for- 
eign danger or loss even to this very 
day. And what may be well looked 
upon for as great a Miracle, this is a 
Place where no Malefactors are found, 



deserving death, or even a Prison for 
Debtors, there being no more than two 
persons, as far as I have been able to 
learn, ever suffered death as criminals, 
although it has been a settlement near 
sixty years; one of whom was a Turk 
that committed Murder, the other an 
old woman for Witchcraft. These, 'tis 
true, were on the Stage and acted 
many vears before I knew the Place; 
but as for the last, I wish it had been 
undone to this day; although they give 
a great many arguments to justify the 
deed, which I had rather they should 
have a Hand in than myself; seeing 
I could never approve taking life away 
upon such accusations, the justice 
whereof I could never yet understand. 

But to return to the subject in Hand; 
we there make extraordinary good 
Bricks throughout the Settlement. All 
sorts of Handicrafts, as Carpenters, 
Joiners, Masons, Plainsters, Shoemak- 
ers, Tanners, Taylors, Weavers and 
most others, may with small begin- 
nings and God's blessings, thrive very 
well in this Place and Provide for their 
Children, Land being sold at a muc.i 
cheaper rate than at any Place in 
America, and may as I suppose be 
purchased of the Lords Proprietors herQ 
in England, or of the Governour there 
for the time being, by any that shall 
have a mind to transport themselves to 
that Country. The Farmers that go 
thither, (for which sort of Men it is 
a very thriving Place) should take 
with them some particular seeds of 
grass, as Tresfoil, Clover-grass, all 
sorts, Sanfoin, or common grass, that 
which is a Rarity in Europe, especially 
what has sprung and rose first from a 
warm Climate, and will endure the Sun 
without Flinching. Likewise if there 
be any extraordinary sort of grain for 
increase of hardiness, and some Fruit 
Trees of choice kinds, they will be both 
profitable and pleasant to have with 



OF NORTH CAROI.INA. 



99 



you, where you may see the fruits of 
your labour in perfection in a few 
years. The necessary Instruments of 
Husbandry I need not acquaint the 
Husbandman withal; Hoes of all sorts; 
Axes may be had, with Saws, Wedges, 
Augurs, Nails, Hammers, and what 
other things may be necessary for 
building with brick or stone, which sort 
your Inclination and Conveniency 
lead you to. For, after having looked 
over this Treatise, you must needs be 
acquainted with the nature of the Coun- 
try, and therefore cannot but be judges, 
what it is that you will chiefly want. 
As for Land, none need want it for 
taking up, even in the Places there 
seated on the Navigable Creeks, Riv- 
ers and Harbours, without being driven 
into remoter Holes and Corners of the 
Country, for settlements, which all are 
forced to do, who, at this day, set- 
tle in most or all of the other English 
Plantations planted in America; which 
are already become so populous, that a 
New Comer cannot get a beneficial and 
commodious Seat, unless he purchases, 
when, in most places in Virginia and 
Maryland, a thousand acres of good 
Land, seated on a Navigable Water 



will cost a thousand Pounds; whereas 
with us, it is at present obtained for the 
fiftieth part of the money. Besides our 
Land pays to the Lords but an easy 
Quit-Rent, or yearly Acknowledgement, 
and the other Settlements pay two 
shillings per Hundred. All these things 
duly weighed, any rational man that 
has a mind to purchase Land in the 
Plantations for a settlement of himself 
and family will soon discover the ad- 
vantages that attend the Settlers and 
purchasers of Land in Carolina, above 
all other Colonies in the English Do- 
minions in America. And as there is a 
free exercise of all Persuasions amongst 
the Christians, the Lords Proprietors 
to encourage Ministers of the Church 
of England, have given free Lands to- 
wards the Maintenance of a Church 
and especially for the Parish of St. 
Thomas in Pampticough, over-against 
the Town, is already laid out for a 
Glebe of two hundred and twenty-three 
acres of rich well-situated Land, that a 
Parsonage House may be built upon. 
And now I shall proceed to give an ac- 
count of the Indians, their Customs and 
Ways of Living, with a short Diction- 
ary of their Speech. 



LOFC. 



CHAPTER IV. 



The Indians, which were the Inhabi- 
tants of America, when the Spaniards 
and other Europeans discovered the 
several Parts of that Country, are the 
people which we reckon the Natives 
thereof; as indeed they were, when we 
first found out those Parts, and appear- 
ed therein. Yet this has not wrought 
in me a full satisfaction, to allow these 
People to have been the Ancient Dwell- 
ers of the New World, or the Tract of 
Land we call America. The reasons 
that I have to think otherwise, are too 
many to set down here; but I shall 
give the Reader a few, before I pro- 
ceed; and some others he will find scat- 
tered in my writings elsewhere. 

In Carolina (The Part I now treat of) 
are the fairest Marks of a Deluge (that 
at some time has probably made 
strange Alterations, as to the Station 
that Country was then in) that ever 
I saw, or I think, read of, in any His- 
tory. Amongst the other Subterrane- 
ous Matters, that have been discov- 
er'd, we found, in digging of a Well 
that was 26 foot deep, at the Bottom 
thereof, many large Pieces of the Tulip- 
Tree, and several other sorts of Woou, 
some of which were cut and notch'd 
and some squared, as the Joices of a 
House are, which appear'd (in the 
Judgment of all that saw them) to be 
wrought with Iron Instruments; it 
seeming impossible for anything made 
of Stone, or what they were found to 
make use of, to cut wood in that man- 
ner. It cannot be argued that the 
Wood so cut, might float from some 
other Continent; because Hickory and 
the Tulip-Tree are spontaneous in 
America, and in no other places, that 
I could ever learn. It is to be acknowl- 



edged that the Spaniards give us rela- 
tions of magnificent Buildings, which 
were raised by the Indians of Mexico 
and other Parts, which they discovered 
and conquered; amongst whom no Iron 
Instruments were found; but 'tis a 
great misfortune that no Person in that 
Expedition was so curious, as to take 
an exact Draught of the Pabricks of 
those People, which would have been a 
discovery of great Value, and very ac- 
ceptable to the Ingenious; for as to the 
Politeness of Stones, it may be effected 
by Collision, and Grinding, which is of 
a contrary Nature, on Several Ac- 
counts, and disproves not my Argu- 
ments in the least. 

The next is, the Earthen Pots that 
are often found under Ground, and at 
the Foot of the Banks where the Water 
has often washed them away. They are 
for the most part broken in pieces; but 
we find them of a different sort of com- 
parison of those the Indians use at 
this day, who have had no other ever 
since the English discovered America. 
The Bowels of the Earth cannot have 
altered them, sdnce they are thicker, 
of another Shape, and Composition, and 
nearly approach to the Urns of the An- 
cient Romans. 

Again, the Peaches, which are the 
only tame Fruit, or what is Foreign, 
that these people enjoy, which is an 
eastern Product, and will keep and re- 
tain its vegetative and growing Fac- 
ulty, the longest of anything of that na- 
ture, that I know of. The Stone, as I 
elsewhere have remarked, is thicker 
than any other sort of Peaches in Eu- 
rope, or of the European sort now 
growing in America, and is observed 
to grow if planted, after it has been 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



lOI 



for several Years laid by; and it seems 
very probable that these people might 
come from some Eastern Country; for 
when you ask them whence their fore- 
fathers came, that first inhabited the 
Country, they will point to the West- 
ward and say. Where the Sun Sleeps, 
our Forefathers came Thence, which 
at that distance may be reckoned 
among the Eastern Parts of the World. 
And to this day they are a shifting, 
wandering People, for I know some 
Indian Nations that have changed their 
settlements many Hundred Miles, 
sometimes no less than a thousand, as 
is proved by the Savanna Indians, who 
formerly lived on the banks of the 
Mississippi, and removed thence to the 
Head of one of the Rivers of South 
Carolina; since which (for some dis- 
like) most of them are removed to live 
in the quarters of the Iroquois or Sin- 
nagars, which are on the Heads of the 
Rivers that Disgorge themselves into 
the Bay of Chesapeak. I once met with 
a young Indian Woman that had been 
brought from beyond the Mountains, 
and was sold for a Slave into Vir- 
ginia. She spoke the same language 
as the Coranine Indians, that dwell 
near Cape-Look-Out, allowing for some 
few words, which were different, yet 
no otherwise, than they might under- 
stand one another very well. 

The Indians of North Carolina are a 
well-shaped, clean-made People, of dif- 
ferent Statures, as the Europeans are, 
yet chiefly inclined to be tall. They 
are a very straight People, and never 
bend forwards, or stoop in the shoul- 
ders, unless overpowered by Old Age. 
Their limbs are exceedingly well- 
shaped. As for their Legs and Feet 
they are generally the handsomest in 
the World. Their Bodies are a little 
Flat, which is occasioned by their be- 
ing Laced hard down to a Board in 
their Infancy. This is all the Cradle 
they have, which I shall describe at 



large elsewhere; their Eyes are black 
or of a Dark Hazel; The White is mar- 
bled with red Streaks, which is ever 
common to these people, unless when 
sprung from a white Father or Mother. 
Their Colour is of a Tawny, which 
would not be so dark, did they not 
dawb themselves with Bear's Oil and 
a Colour like burnt Cork. This is be- 
gun in their Infancy and is continued 
for a long time, which fills the Pores, 
and enables them better to endure the 
Extremity of the Weather. They are 
never bald on their Heads, although 
never so old, which I believe proceeds 
from their Heads being always uncov- 
ered, and the Greasing their Hair (so 
often as they do) with Bear's Fat, 
which is a great Nourisher of the Hair, 
and causes it to grow very fast. 
Amongst the Bear's Oil, (when they in- 
tend to be fine) they mix a certain red 
powder that comes from a Scarlet Root, 
which they get in the hilly country, 
near the foot of the great ridge of 
Mountains, and it is no where else to 
be found. They have this Scarlet Root 
in great esteem, and sell it for a great 
Price, one to another. The reason of 
its Value is, because they not only go 
a long way for it, but are in great 
danger of the Sinnagars or Iroquois, 
who are mortal Enemies to all our In- 
dians, and very often take them Cap- 
tives, to kill them before they return 
from their Voyage. The Tuskeruros 
and other Indians have often brought 
this seed with them from the Moun- 
tains, but it would never grow in our 
Land. With this and Bear's Grease 
they anoint their Heads and Temples, 
which is esteemed as ornamental, as 
sweet Powder to our Hair. Besides 
this Root has the Virtue of Killing 
Lice and suffers none to abide or breed 
in their Heads. For want of this Root 
they sometimes use Pecoon-Root, 
which is of a Crimson Colour, but it is 
apt to dye the Hair of an ugly Hue. 



I02 



i^awson's history 



Their Eyes are commonly full and 
manly, and their Gate sedate and ma- 
jestic. They never walk backward and 
forward as we do, nor contemplate on 
the Affairs of Loss and Gain; the 
things which daily perplex us. They are 
dexterous and steady both as to their 
Hands and Feet, to Admiration. They 
will walk over deep Brooks, and Creeks, 
on the smallest Poles, and that without 
any Fear or Concern. Nay an Indian 
will walk on the ridge of a Barn or 
House and look down the Gable-end 
and spit upon the Ground, as uncon- 
cerned as if he were walking on Terra 
Firma. In Running, Leaping or any 
such other exercise, their Legs seldom 
miscarry and give them a fall; and as 
for letting any thing fall out of their 
hands, I never yet knew one Example. 
They are no Inventors of any Arts or 
Trades worthy of mention; the reason 
of which I take to be that they are 
not possessed with that Care and 
Thoughtfullness how to provide for the 
Necessaries of Life as the Europeans 
are; yet they will learn anything very 
soon. I have known an Indian stock 
Guns better than most of our Joiners, 
although he never saw one stocked be- 
fore, and besides his Working-Tool was 
only a sorry Knife. I have also known 
several of them that were Slaves to 
the English, learn Handicraft Trades 
very handily and speedily. I never saw 
a Dwarf among them nor one that was 
Hump-backed. Their teeth are yellow 
with Smoking Tobacco, which both 
Men and Women are much addicted to. 
They tell us, that they had Tobacco 
amongst them, before the European 
made any discovery of that Continent. 
It differs in the Leaf from the sweet- 
scented, and Oroonoko, which are the 
Plants we raise'and cultivate in Ameri- 
ca. Theiri differs likewise much in the 
Smell, when green, from our Tobacco 
before cured. They do not use the same 



way to cure it as we do; and therefore 
the Difference must be very consider- 
able in Taste; for all Men (that know 
Tobacco) must allow, that it is the Or- 
dering thereof which gives a Hogoo to 
that Weed, rather than any natural 
rel'.sh it possesses when green. Al- 
though they are great Smokers, yet 
they never are seen to take it in Snuff 
or chew it. 

They have no hairs on their Faces 
(except seme few,) and those but little. 
They are continually plucking it away 

from their Faces, by the Roots 

.Althought we reckon these a very 
smooth People, and free from Hair; yet 
I once saw a middle-aged Man, that 
was hairy all down his back, the Hairs 
being above an inch long. As there 
are found very few or scarce any, De- 
formed or Cripples, amongst them, so 
neither did I ever see but one Blind 
Man, and then they would give me no 
account how his Blindness came. They 
had a Use for him, which was to lead 
him with a Girl, Woman, or Boy, by 
a string; so they put what burden they 
pleased upon his back and made him 
very serviceable upon all such occa- 
sions. No people have better Eyes, or 
see better in the Night or Day, than 
the Indians. Some allege, that the 
Smoke of the Pitch-Pine, which they 
chiefly burn, doth both preserve and 
streiigthen the Eyes, as perhaps it may 
do, because that Smoke never offends 
the Eyes, tho' you hold your Face over 
a Great Fire thereof. This is occasion- 
ed by the volatile Part of the Turpen- 
tine which rises with the Smoke, and 
is of a friendly, balsamick Nature; for 
the Ashes of the Pine Tree afford no 
fix'd salt in them. They let their 
Nails grow very long, which, they reck- 
on, is the Use nails are design'd for, 
and laugh at the Europeans for pairing 
theirs, which they say, disarms them of 
that which Nature design'd for them. 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



103 



They are not of so robust and strong 
bodies, as to lift great Burdens and 
endure Labour and Slavish work, as 
the Europeans are, yet some that are 
Slaves prove very good and laborious; 
but of themselves, they never work as 
the English do, taking care for no fur- 
ther what is than absolutely necessary 
to support life. In Travelling and 
Hunting they are very indefatigable; 
because that carries a Pleasure along 
with the Profit.- I have known some 
of them very strong; and as for Run- 
ning and Leaping they are extraordi- 
nary Fellows, and will dance for sev- 
eral Nights together with the greatest 
Briskness imaginable, their Wind never 
failing them. 

Their Dances are of Different Natures 
and for every sort of Dance they have 
a tune which is allotted for that Dance; 
as, if it be a War-Dance they will 
have a War-Like Tune, wherein they 
express with all the passion and Ve- 
hemence imaginable what they intend 
to do with their Enemies; how they 
will kill, roast, scalp, beat and make 
Captive, such and such numbers of 
them, and how many they have de- 
stroy'd before. All these Songs are 
made New for every Feast, nor is one 
and the same song sung at two sev- 
eral Festivals. Some one of the Nation 
(which have the best Gift of express- 
ing their Design) is appointed by the 
King, and War- Captains, to make these 
Songs. 

Others are made for Feasts of an- 
other Nature; as, when several Towns, 
or different Nations have made Peace 
with one another; then the Song suits 
both Nations and relates, how the Bad 
Spirit makes them go to War, and De- 
stroy one another; but it shall never be 
so again, but that their Sons and 
Daughters shall marry together, and 
the two Nations love one another and 
become as one People. 



They have a third sort of Feasts 
and Dances, which are always when 
the Harvest of corn is ended, and m 
the Spring. The one to return thanks 
to the Good Spirit for the Fi'uits of the 
Earth, the other to beg the same bless- 
ings for the succeeding Tear. And, 
to encouraee the Young Men to la- 
bour stoutly, in Planting their Maiz 
and Pulse, thev set a sort of an idol 
in the field, which is dressed up ex- 
actly like an Indian, having all the 
Indian habits, besides abundance of 
Wamoum, and their Money, made of 
Shells, that hang about his Neck. The 
Imae:e none of the young Men dare 
approach; for the Old Ones will not 
suffer them to com.e near him, but tell 
them that he is some famous Indian 
Warrior, that died a great while ago, 
and now is come amongst them to see 
if they work well, which, if they do, 
he will go to the good Spirit and 
soeak to Him to send them. Plenty of 
Corn and make all the young Men ex- 
pert hunters and Mighty Warriors. All 
this While, the King and Old Men sit 
around the Image, and seemingly pay 
a profound Respect to the same. One 
great Help to these Indians in carrying 
on these Cheats, and inducing the 
Youths to do what thev please is the 
uninterrupted silence which is ever 
kept and observed, with all the Respect 
and Veneration imaginable. 

At these Feasts, which are set out 
with all the magnificence their fare al- 
lows of, the Masquerades begin at 
night and not Before. There is com- 
monlv a Fire made in the Middle of 
the House, which is the largest in the 
Town, and is very often the Dwelling 
of their King, or War-Captain, where 
sit two men on the Ground, upon a 
Mat; one with a rattle made of a 
Gourd, with some Beans in it; the 
other with a Drum rriade of an 
Earthen Pot, covered with a dressed 



I04 



lawson's history 



Deer Skin, and one Stick in his Hand 
to beat thereon, and so they both be- 
p:in the Song appointed. At the same 
time one Drums and the other Rat- 
tles, which is all the artificial Music 
of their own Making I ever saw among 
them. To these two Instruments they 
sing, which carries no Air with it, 
but is a sort of unsavory Jargon; yet 
their Cadences and raising of their 
Voices are formed with that Equality 
and Exactness, that (to us Europeans) 
it seems admirable how they should 
continue their Songs, without once 
missing to agree, each with the other's 
Note and Tune. 

As for their Dancinfir. were there 
Masters of the Profession amongst 
them, as there are with us, they would 
dearly earn their money; for these 
Creatures take the most pains with it 
that Men are able to endure. I have 
seen thirty odd together a-dancing 
until everv one dropp'd down with 
Sweat, as if Water had been poured 
down their Backs. They use those hard 
Labours to make them able to endure 
Fatigue, and improve their Wind, 
which indeed is very long and durable, 
it beina: a hard matter, in any exer- 
cise, to dispossess them of it. 

At these Feasts they meet from all 
the Towns within Fifty or Sixty Miles 
around, where they buy and sell sev- 
eral Commodities, as we do at Fairs 
and Markets. Besides, they game 
very much, and often strip them- 
selves of all they have in the World, 
and what is more, I have known sever- 
al of them sell themeselves away, so 
that they have remained the Winner's 
Servants, till their Relations or them- 
selves could raise the mone^ to re- 
deem them; and when this happens the 
Loser is never dejected or melancholy 
at the loss, but laughs and seems no 
less contented than if he had won. 
They never differ at Gaming, nor did I 



ever see a Disoute about the Legality 
thereof, so much as rise amongst 
them. 

The chiefest Game is a sort of Arith- 
metic, which is managed by a Parcel of 
small split Reeds, the thickness of a 
small Bent; these are made very nice- 
ly, so that they part and are tractable 
in their Hands. They are flfty-one in 
number, their length about seven inch- 
es; when they play they throw part of 
them to their Antagonist; the art is to 
discover, upon sight, how many you 
have, and what you throw to him that 
plays with you. Some are so expert 
with their numbers that they will tell 
ten times together what they threw 
out of their Hands. Although the whole 
Play is carried on with the quickest 
Motion its possible to use, yet some are 
so expert at this game as to win great 
Indian Estates by this Play. A good 
set of these reeds, fit to Play withal, 
are valued and sold for a dressed Doe 
Skin. 

They have several other Plays and 
Games, as with the Kernels or Stones 
of Persimmons, which are in effect the 
same as our Dice, because Winning or 
Losing depend on which side appears 
uppermost, and how they happen to 
fall together. 

Another Game is managed with a Ba- 
toon and a Ball, and resembles our 
Trap-ball; besides several Nations have 
several Games and Peetimes which 
are not used by others. 

These Savages live in Wigwams, or 
Cabins built of Bark, which are made 
round like an Oven to prevent any 
danger by hard Gales of Wind. They 
make the Fire in the middle of the 
House, and have a Hole at the top of 
the Roof, right above the Fire, to let 
out the smoke. These Dw^ellings are as 
Hot as Stoves, where the Indians sleep 
and Sweat all night. The Floors there- 
of are never paved nor swept, so that 
they have always loose earth on them. 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



105 



They are often troubled with a multi- 
tude of Fleas, especially near the 
Places where they dress their Deer- 
Skins, because that Hair harbours 
them, yet I have never felt any ill, un- 
savory Smell in their Cabins, whereas, 
should we live in our Houses as they 
do, we should be poisoned with our 
own Nastiness; which confirms these 
Indians to be, as they really are, some 
of the sweetest People in the world. 
The Bark they make their Cabins 
withal is generally Cypress, or red or 
white Cedar, and sometimes when they 
are a great way from any of these 
Woods, they make use of Pine Bark, 
which is the Worser sort. In building 
these fabricks they get very long Poles 
of Pine, Cedar, Hickory or any other 
"Wood that will bend; these are the 
thickness of the small of a Man's Leg, 
at the thickest end of which they gen- 
erally strip off the bark, and warm 
them well in the fire, which makes 
them tough and fit to bend; afterwards 
they stick the thickest ends of them in 
the ground, above two yards asun- 
der, in a circular form, the distance 
they design the Cabin to be (which is 
not always round but sometimes oval); 
then they bend the tops and bring 
them together and bind their ends with 
bark of trees, that is proper for that 
use, as Elm is, or sometimes the Moss 
that grows on the Trees, and is a yard 
or two long and never Rots; then they 
brace them with other poles, so that 
they are very warm and tight, and will 
keep firm against all the Weathers that 
blow. They have other sorts of Cabins 
without Windows, which are for their 
Granaries, Skins, and Merchandizes; 
and others that are covered overhead 
and the rest left open for air. These 
have Reed Hurdles like Tables, to lie 
and sit on in summer, and serve for 
pleasant Banqueting Houses in the Hot 
Season of the Year. The Cabins they 
dwell in have Benches all around, ex- 



cept where the door stands. On these 
they lay Beasts-Skins and Mats made 
of Rushes, whereon they sleep and loll. 
In one of these several Families com- 
monly live, though all related to one 
another. 

As to the Indians Food, it is of sev- 
eral sorts, which are as follows: 

Venison, and Fawns in the Bag, cut 
out of the Doe's Belly; Fish of all 
sorts, the Lamprey-Eel excepted, and 
the Sturgeon our Salt-Water Indians 
will not touch; Bear and Beaver; Pan- 
ther; Pole-Cat; Wild-Cat; Possum; 
Raccoon; Hares and Squirrels roasted 
with their Guts in; Snakes, all Indians 
will not eat them, tho' some do; all 
wild Fruits that are Palatable, some of 
which they dry and keep against Win- 
ter, as all sorts of Fruits, and Peaches 
which they dry, and make Quiddonies, 
and Cakes, that are pleasant, and a lit- 
tle tartish; young Wasps when they are 
white in the Combs before they can 
fly, this is esteemed a dainty; All sorts 
of Tortoise and Terebins; Shell-Fish 
and Stingray or Scate, dryed; Gourds; 
Melons; Cucumbers; Squashes; Pulse 
of all sorts; Rockahomine Meal, which 
is their Maiz, parched and pounded in- 
to powder; Fowl of all sorts, that are 
eatable; Ground-Nuts or Wild Pota- 
toes; Acorns and Acorn Oil; Wild- 
Bulls; Beef, Mutton, Pork, etc., from 
the English; Indian Corn, or Maiz, 
made into several sorts of Bread; Ears 
of Corn roasted in the Summer or pre- 
served against the Winter. 

The Victuals is Common, through- 
out the whole Kindred Relations, and 
often to the whole Town; especially, 
when they are in Hunting-Quarters, 
then they all fare alike, whichsoever 
of them kills the Game. They are very 
kind and charitable to one another, but 
more especially to those of their own 
Nation; for if any one of them has suf- 
fered any Loss by Fire or otherwise, 
they order the grieved persons to make 



io6 



i^awson's history 



a Feast, and invite them all thereto, 
which, on the day appointed, they come 
to, and after every Man's mess of Vic- 
tuals is dealt to him, one of their 
Speakers or grave old Men, makes an 
Harangue, and acquaints the Company 
That that Man's House has been burnt, 
wherein all his Goods were destroyed; 
That he and his Familjf very narrowly 
escaped; That he is every Man's friend 
in that 'Companj^; and, That it is all 
their Duties to help him, as he would 
do to any of them, had like Misfortune 
befallen them. After this Oration is 
over, every Man, according to his qual- 
ity, throws him down upon the Ground 
some Present, which is commonly 
Beads, Ronoak, Peak, Skins or Furs, 
and which very often amounts to treble 
the amount he has suffered. The same 
assistance they give to any Man that 
wants to build a Cabin, or make a Ca- 
noe. They say it is our Duty thus to 
do; for there are several Works that 
one Man cannot effect, therefore we 
must give him our help, otherwise our 
Society will fall, and we shall be de- 
prived of those urgent Necessities 
which life requires. They have no 
Fences to part one anothers Lots in 
their Corn-Fields; but every Man 
knows his own, and it scarce ever hap- 
pens that they rob one another of so 
much as an Bar of Corn, which if any 
is found to do. he is sentenced by the 
Elders to work, and plant for him that 
was robbed, till he is recompensed for 
all the damage he has suffered in his 
Corn-Field; and this is punctually per- 
formed, and the Thief held in Disgrace 
that steals from any of his Country- 
Folks. It often happens that a Woman 
is destitute of her Husband, and has a 
great many Children to maintain; such 
a Person they always help, and make 
their young men plant, reap and do 
everything for her that she is not cap- 
able of doing for herself; yet they do 
not allow any one to be idle, but to em- 



ploy themselves in some Work or oth- 
er. 

They never fight with one another, 
unless Drunk, nor do you ever hear any 
scolding amongst them. They say tho 
Europeans are always wrangling and 
uneasy, and wonder they do not go out 
of this World, since they are so uneasy 
and discontented in it. All their Mis- 
fortunes and Losses end in Laughter; 
for if their Cabins take fire, and ail 
their Goods are burnt therein, (indeed 
all will strive to prevent further Dam- 
age whilst there is any possibility) yet 
such a misfortune ends in a hearty Jsit 
of laughter, unless some of their Kins- 
folk and Friends have lost their Lives; 
but then the Case is altered and they 
become very pensive, and go into deep 
Mourning, which is continued for 
a considerable time; sometimes 
longer or shorter, just accord- 
ing to the Dignity of the Person, and 
the Number of Relations he had near 
to him. 

When an Indian is dead the greater 
person he is the more expensive is his 
Funeral. The first thing which is done 
is, to place the nearest Relations near 
the Corps, who mourn and weep very 
much, having their hair hung down 
their Shoulders, in a very forlorn man- 
ner. After the dead Person has laid a 
Day and a Night in one of their Hur- 
dles of Canes, commonly in some out- 
House made for that purpose, those 
that ofl^ciate about the Funeral go into 
Town, and the first young Men they 
Meet withal that have Blankets or 
Match Coats on, whom they think fit 
for their Turn, they strip them from 
their Backs, who suffer them to do so 
without any Resistance. In these they 
wrap the dead Bodies, and convey them 
with two or three Mats wh'ch the In- 
dians make of Rushes or Cane; and 
last of all they have a long Web of 
woven Reeds, or hollow Canes, which 
is the Coffin of the Indians, and is 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



107 



brought around several times and is 
tied fast at both ends, which indeed 
looks very decent and well. Then the 
Corps is brought out of the House 
into the Orchard of Peach-Trees, where 
another Hurdle is made to receive it, 
about which comes all the Relations 
and Nation that the dead person be- 
longed to, besides several from other 
Nations in Alliance with them; all 
which sit down on the Ground, upon 
Mats spread there for that purpose; 
where the Doctor or Conjurer appears, 
and, after some time, makes a sort of 
O-yes, at which all are very silent. 
Then he begins to give an account who 
the dead person was, and how stout a 
man he approved himself; how many 
Enemies and Captives he had killed 
and taken; how strong, tall and nim- 
ble he was; that he was a great Hunt- 
er, a lover of his Country, and possess- 
ed of a great many beautiful Wives 
and children, esteemed the greatest of . 
Blessings among these Savages, in 
which they have a true Notion. Thus 
this Orator runs on, highly extolling 
the dead Man, for his Valour, Conduct, 
Strength, Riches and Good Humour; 
and enumerating his Guns, Slaves and 
almost everything he was possess'd of, 
when living. After which, he addresses 
himself to the People of that Town or 
Nation, and bids them Supply the 
Dead Man's Place, by following his 
stepd, who he assures them, is gone into 
the Country of Souls (which they think 
lies a great way off, in this World, 
which the Sun visits, in his ordinary 
Course) and that he will have the en- 
joyment of handsome young Women, 
great Store of Deer to hunt, never Meet 
with Hunger, Cold or Fatigue, but ev- 
erything to answer his Expectation an I 
Desire. This is the Heaven they pro- 
pose to themselves: but on the con- 
trary, for those Indians that are lazy, 
thievish amongst themselves, bad 
Hunters and no Warriours, nor of 



much use to the Nation, to such they 
allot in the next World, Hunger, Cold, 
Troubles, Ugly Old Women for their 
Companions, with Snakes and all sorts 
of Nasty Victuals to feed on. Thus is 
marked out their Heaven and Hell. Af- 
ter all this Harangue, he diverts I;ha 
People with some of their Traditions, 
as when there was a Violent hot Sum- 
mer or very hard Winter; when any 
notable Distempers raged amongst 
them; when they were at War with 
such and such Nations; how victorious 
they were, and what were the Names 
of their War-Captains. To piove the 
times more exactly, he produces tho 
Records of the Country, which are a 
Parcel of Reeds of different lengths, 
with several distinct marks known to 
none but themselves; by which they 
seem to guess, very exactly, at Acci- 
dents that happened many years ago; 
nay two or three Ages or more. The 
reason I have to believe what they 
tell me, on this Account, is because I 
have been at the meetings of several 
Indian Nations; and they agree 'ii re- 
lating the same Circumstances, as to 
Time, very exactly; as, for example 
they say, there was so hard a winter 
in Carolina 105 years ago, that the 
great Sound was frozen over and thfi 
Vv'ild geese came into the Wooas to eat 
Acorns and they were so tame (I sup- 
pose through Want) that they were 
killed abundantly in the Woods by 
knocking them on the Head with 
Sticks. 

But, to return to the dead Man. When 
this Long Tale is ended by him thai, 
spoke first; perhaps a second begins 
another long Story; so a third and 
fourth if there be so many Doctors 
present; which all tell one and the 
same thing. At last the Corps is 
brought away from that Hurdle to the 
Grave, by four young Men, attended 
by the Relations, the King, Old Men 
and all the Nation. When they come 



io8 



l.^wson's history 



to the Sepulchre, which is about six 
foot deep, and eight foot long, having 
at each end, (that is, at the Head and 
Foot) a Light-Wood or Pitch-Pine 
Fork driven close down the sides c£ 
the Grave, firmly into the Ground; 
(these two forks are to contain a 
Ridge-Pole, as you shall understand 
presently) before they lay the Corps 
into the Grave thev cover the bottom 
two or three times over with Bark of 
Trees, then they let down the Corps 
(with two Belts, that the Indians carry 
their Burdens withal very leisurely 
upon the said Barks; then they lay 
over a Pole of the Same Wood, in the 
two Forks, and having a great many 
Pieces of Pitch-Pine logs, about two 
foot and a half long, they stick them 
in the sides of the Grave down each 
end, and near the top thereof, where 
the other Ends lie on the Ridge-Pole, 
so that they are declining like the roof 
of a House. These being very thick- 
plac'd they cover them (many times 
double) with Bark; then they throw 
the Earth thereon, that came out of 
the Grave, and beat it down very firm, 
by this means the Dead Body lies in a 
Vault, nothing touching him; so that 
when I saw this way of burial, I was 
mightily pleased with it, esteemng it 
very pleasant and decent, as having 
seen a great many Christians buried 
without the tenth part of that Cere- 
mony and Decency. Now when the 
Flesh is rotten and Moulder'd from 
the Bones they take up the Carcass and 
clean the Bones, and joint them to- 
gether; afterwards they dress them up 
in pure white dressed Deer-Skins, and 
lay them amongst their Grandees and 
Kings in the Quiogozon, which is their 
royal Tomb or Burial-Place of their 
Kings and War-Captains. This is a 
very large Magnificent Cabin, (accord- 
ing to their Building) which is raised 
at the Publlck Charge of the Nation, 
and maintained in a great deal of form 



and Neatness. About seven foot high 
is a Floor or Loft made, on which lie 
all their Princes and great Men, that 
have died for several Hundred years, 
all attired in the dress I have before 
told you of. No person is to have his 
bones lie here and be thus dressed, un- 
less he gives a round sum of their 
Money to the Rulers, for Admittance. 
If they remove never so far, to live in 
a Foreign Country, they never fail to 
take all these dead Bones with them, 
tho' the Tediousness of their short 
daily Marches keeps them never so 
long on their Journey. They reverence 
and adore this Quiogozon, with all the 
Veneration and Respect that is possible 
for such a People to discharge, and had 
rather lose all than have any Violence 
or Injury offer'd thereto. These Sav- 
ages differ some small matter in their 
Burials; some burying right upwards, 
and otherwise, as you are acquainted 
withal from my Journal from South to 
North Carolina. Yet they all agree in 
their Mourning, which is to appear 
every night at the Sepulchre, and howl 
and weep in a very dismal manner, 
having their Paces dawb'd over with 
Light-Wood Soot, (which is the same 
as Lamp-Black) and Bears Oil. This 
renders them as black as it is possible 
to make themselves, so that theirs very 
much resembles the Faces of Executed 
Men boil'd in Tar. If the Dead Per- 
son was a Grandee, to carry on the 
Funeral Ceremonies, they hire people 
to crv and Lament over the Dead 
Body. Of this sort, there are seve /al 
that practice this for a livelihood, and 
are very expert at shedding Abund- 
ance of Tears, and howling like Wolves 
and so discharging their office with 
abundance of Hypocrisy and Art. The 
Women are never Accompanied with 
these Ceremonies after Death; and to 
what World they allot that sex I never 
understood, unless to wait on their 
dead Husb2,nds; but they have more 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



109 



wit than some of the Eastern Nations; 
who sacrifice themselves to accompany 
their Husbands into the next World. It 
is the Dead Man's relations, by Blood, 
as his Uncles, Brothers, Sisters, Cous- 
ins, Sons and Daughters, that moani 
in good earnest; the Wives think'ng 
their Duty is discharged, and that they 
are become free, when their Husband 
is dead; so, as fast as they can, look 
out for another, to supply his Place. 

As for the Indian Women, which nov*' 
happen in my Way; when young, and 
•at Maturity, they are as fine-shap'd 
Creatures (take them generally) as any 
In the Universe. They are of a tawny 
Complexion, their Eyes very brisk and 
amorous; their Smiles afford the finest 
Composure a face can possess; their 
Hands are of the finest make, with 
small long Fingers, and as soft as their 
Cheeks; and their Whole bodies of a 
Smooth Nature. They are not so un- 
couth or unlikely, as we suppose them. 
They are most of them mercenary, ex- 
cept the married Women, who some- 
times bestow their favors also to some 
or other, in their Husband's absence, 
For which they never ask any reward. 
As for the Report that they are never 
found unconstant, like tne Europeans, it 
is wholly false; for were the Old World 
and the new one put into a Pair of 
Scales (in point of constancy) it would 
be a hard Matter to discern which was 

the heavier The Indian Traders 

are those which travel and abide 
amongst the Indians for a long space 
cf time; sometimes for a Year, two, or 
three. These Men commonly have their 
Indian Wive=;, whcieby they soon learn 
the Indian Tongue and keep a friend- 
ship with the Savages. They find these 
Indian Girls very serviceable to them, 
on account of dressing their Victuals 
and instructing 'em in the Affairs and 
Customs of the Country. Moreover 
such a Man gets a great trade with the 
Savages; for when a person that lives 



amongst them is reserv'd from the Con- 
versation of their Women, 'tis impossi- 
ble for him ever to accomplish his De- 
signs amongst that People. It is a cer- 
tain rule and Custom, amongst all the 
Savages of America that I was ever ac- 
quainted withal, to let the children al- 
ways fall to the Women's lot. And 
therefore, on this Score, it ever seems 
impossible for the Christians to get 
their Children (which they have by 
these Indian Women) away from them; 
whereby they might bring them up in 
the Knowledge of the Christian Prin- 
ciples. Nevertheless, we often find, 
that English Men and other Europeans 
that have been accustom'd to the Con- 
versation of these Savage Women and 
their Way of Living, have been so al- 
lur'd with that careless sort of Life, as 
lo be constant to their Indian Wife and 
her relations, so long as they Liv'd, 
without ever desiring to return again 
imongst the English, altho' they had 
very fair Opportunities of Advantages 
am.ongst their Countrymen, of which 
sort I have known several. As for the 
Indian Marriages, I have read and 
heard of a great deal of Form and Cer- 
emony used, which I never saw, nor yet 
could learn in the time I have been 
amongst them, any otherwise than I 
shall here give an Account of; wh.ch is 
as follows. When any young Indian 
has a mind for such a Girl to his Wife, 
he, or some one for him, goes to the 
Young Woman's Parents, if living; if 
not to her nearest Relations; where 
they make Offers of the Match betwixt 
the Couple. The Relations reply, they 
will consider of it, which serves for a 
sufficient Answer, till there be a second 
meeting about the Marriage which is 
generally brought into Debate before all 
the Relations (that are Old People) on 
both Sides; and sometimes the King 
with all his great Men give their Opin- 
ions therein, if it be agreed on, and the 
young Woman approves thereof (for 



no 



lawson's history 



these Savages never give their children 
In Marriage without their own consent) 
the man pays so much for his Wife; 
and the Handsomer she is, the greater 
Price she bears. Now^, it often happens 
that the Man has not so much of their 
Money ready as he is to pay for his 
Wife; but if they know him to be a 
good Hunter, and that he can raise the 
Sum, agreed for, in some few Moons, 
or any little time, they agree, she shall 
go along with him as betroth'd. Yet the 
Women are quite contrary, and those 
Indian Girls that have convers'd with 
the English and other Europeans never 
care for the conversation of their own 
Countrymen afterwards. The Indian 
men nio not so vigorous and impatient 
in their Love as we are. They never 
marry so near as a first Cousin; and al- 
though there is nothing more coveted 
amongst them than to marry a Woni;\n 
of their own Nation, yet when che Na- 
tion consists of a A'^ry few People (au 
nowadays it often happens, so that they 
are all of them related to one another) 
then they look out for Husbands an J 
Wives amongst strangers. An Indian 
is allowed to marry two Sisters, or his 
Brother's Wife. The Marriages of 
these Indians are no farther binding 
than the Man and Woman agree to- 
getlier. Either of them has Liberty to 
leave the other upon any frivolous ex- 
cuse they can make, yet whoever takes 
the Woman that was another Man's be- 
fore, and bought by him, as they all 
are, muet certainly pay to her former 
Husband, whatsoever he gave for hei-. 
Nay, if she be a Widow and her Hus- 
band died in debt, whoever takes her 
to Wife, pays all her Husband's Ob- 
ligations, tho' never so many; yet the 
Woman is not required to pay any- 
thing (unless she is willing) that was 
owing from her Husband, so long as she 
keeps single. You may see Men sell- 
ing their Wives as Man do horses in 
a Fair, a Man being allow'd not only to 



change as often a 3 he pleases, but like- 
wise to have as Many Wives as he is 
able to Maintain. I have often seen 
very Old Indian Men (that have been 
Grandees in their Own Nation) have 
three or four very likely young Indian 
Wives, which I have much wondered at. 
They are never to boast of their In- 
trigues with the Women. This pro- 
ceeds not on the score of Reputation, 
for there is no such thing known 
amongst them; yet they retain and 
possess a Modesty which requires those 

pajssions never to be Divulged The 

Indians say, that the Woman is a 
weak creature, and easily drawn away 
by the Man's Persuasions; for which 
reason they lay no blame upon her, but 
the Man (who ought to be the master 
of his Passion) for persuading her to it. 

They are of a very hale Constitution, 
their breaths are as sweet as the air 
they breathe in, yet their Love is nev- 
er of that Force and Continuance that 
any of them ever runs Mad or makes 
away with themselves on that score. 
They never love beyond retrieving their 
first indifferences and when slighted are 
as ready to untie the knot at one end 
as you are at the other. Yet I knew an 
European man who after living with 
one of these Indian women married a 
Christian, and when he went to visit 
his Indian Mistress she made answer 
that she then had forgot she ever 
knew him, so fell a crying and went out 
of the Cabin (away from him) in great 
disorder. 

The Indian Women's work is to cook 
the Victuals for the Whole family, and 
to make Mats, Baskets, Girdles, of Pos- 
sum-Hair and such like. They never 
plant the Corn amongst us, as they do 
amongst the Iroquois, who are always 
at war and hunting. Therefore, the 
Plantation Work is left for the Women 
and Slaves to perform, and look after; 
whilst they are wand'ring all over the 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



Ill 



Continent betwixt the two Bays of 
Mexico and St. Lawrence. 

The Mats the Indian Women make 
are of Rushes, and about five Foot hig-h 
and two fathom long, and sew'd dou- 
ble, that is, two together; whereby 
they become very commodious to lay 
under our Beds or to sleep on in the 
Summer Season in the day-time and for 
our Slaves in the Night. There are 
other Mats made of Flags, which the 
Tuskeruro Indians make and sell to the 
Inhabitants. The Baskets our Neigh- 
boring Indians make are all made of a 
very fine sort of bulrushes, and some- 
times of Silk-Grass, which they work 
with figures of Beasts, Birds, Fishes, 
etc. A great way up in the Country 
both Baskets and Mats are made of the 
Split Reeds, which are only the out- 
ward shining part of the Cain. Of these 
I have seen Mats, Baskets, and Dress- 
ing-Boxes, very artificially done 

The Indian Wife never fails of prov- 
ing so good a Nurse as to bring her 
child up free from the Rickets and Dis- 
asters that proceed from the Teeth, 
with many other Distempers which at- 
tack our Infants in England and other 
Parts of Europe. They always Nurse 
their own children themselves, unless 
Sickness or Death prevents. The Hus- 
band takes care to provide a Cradle, 
which is soon made, consisting of a 
piece of flat wood, which they hew 
with their Hatchets to the likeness of a 
Board; It is about two foot long and 
a foot broad; to this they brace and tie 
the child down very close. Some Na- 
tions have very flat Heads, which is 
made whilst tied on this Cradle. These 
Cradles are apt to make the body flat; 
yet they are the most portable things 
that can be invented; for there is a 
string which goes from one Cornet* of 
the Board to the other, whereby the 
Mother flings her Child on her Back; 
so the infant's back is toward's hers 
and its face looks up towards the sky. 



If it rains, she throws her Leather or 
Woolen Match-Coat over her head, 
which covers the Child all over, and 
secures her and it from the injuries of 
rainy Weather. I never knew any of 
their Women, that had not children 
when Married. The Womens Dress is, 
in severe Weather, a hairy Match-Coat 
in the Natui-e of a Plad, which keeps 
out the cold, and (as I said before) de- 
fends their Children from the Preju- 
dices of the Weather. At other times 
they have only a sort of Flap or Apron 
containing two Yards in Length, and 
better than half a Yard Deep. Some- 
times, it is a Deer-Skin, dressed white, 
and pointed or slit at the bottom, like 
fringe. When this is clean, it becomes 
them very well. Others wear Blue or 
Red Flaps made of Bays and Plains, 
which they buy of the English, of both 
which they tuck in the corners, to fas- 
ter the garment, and sometimes make it 
fast with a belt. Sometimes, they wear 
Indian Shoes, or Moggizons, which are 
made after the same manner as the 
Men's are. The Hair of their Heads is 
made into a long Roll like a Horse's 
Tail, and bound around with Ronoak 
or Porcelan, which is a sort of Beads 
they make of the Conk-Shells. Others 
that have not this, make a Leather- 
String serve. 

The Indian Men have a Match-Coat 
of Hair, Furs, Feathers, or Cloth, as 
the Women have. Their Hair is rolled 
up, on each Ear, as the Women's, only 
much shorter, and oftentimes a roll on 
the Crown of the Head or Temple, 
which is just as they fancy; there be- 
ing no Strictness in their Dress. They 
wear a Loin-Cloth, that is tuck'd in 
by a Belt, both before and behind, 
which decency they never Practised 
before the Christians came amongst 
them. 

They wear Shooes, of Bucks, and 
sometimes Bears-Skin, which they tan 
in an Hour or two; with the Bark of 



112 



lawson's history 



Trees Boiled, wherein they put the 
Leather whilst Hot, and let it remain 
a little while, whereby it becomes so 
qualified, as to endure water and Dirt 
without growing Hard. These have no 
Heels and are made as Fit for the Feet 
as a Glove for the Hands, and are 
very easy to travel in when one is 
used to them. When these Savages 
live near the Water, they frequent 
the Rivers in summer time very much, 
where both Men and Women very of- 
ten in a day go in Naked to wash 
themselves, tho' not both sexes to- 
gether. 

Their Feather Match-Coats are very 
pretty, especially some of them, which 
are made extraordinary charming, 
containing several pretty figures 
wrought in Feathers, making them 
seem like a fine Fower Silk-Shag, and 
when new and Fresh, they become a 
Bed very well instead of a Quilt. Some 
of another sort are made of Hare, 
Racoon, Bever or Squirrel-Skins, which 
are very warm; others again are made 
of the Green part of the Skin of a Mal- 
lard's Head, which they sew very pret- 
tily together, their Thread being either 
the Sinews of a Deer divided very 
small, or Silk Grass. When these are 
finished they look very finely, tho' they 
must needs be very troublesome to 
make. Some of their Great Men, as 
Rulers and Such, that have plenty of 
Deer Skins by them, will often buy the 
English-made Coats, which they wear 
on Festivals and other Days of Visit- 
ing. Yet none ever buy any Breeches, 
saying that they are too much confin- 
ed in them, which prevents their speed 
in running, etc. 

We have some Indians that are more 
civilized than the rest, which wear 
Hats, Shoes, Stockings and Breeches, 
with very tolerable linnen Shirts, 
which is not common amongst these 
Heathens. The Paspitank Indians did 



formerly keep Cattle and make But- 
ter. 

These are them that wear the Eng- 
lish Dress. Whether they have Cattle 
now or no I am not certain; but I am 
of the Opinion that such Inclinations 
in the Savages should meet with En- 
couragement, and every Englishman 
ought to do them justice, and not de- 
fraud them of their land, which has 
been allotted them formerly by the 
Government, for if we do not show 
them examples of Justice and Virtue, 
we can never bring them to believe us 
to be a worthier Race of Man than 
themselves. 

The Dresses of these People are so 
different, according to the Nation that 
they belong to, that it is impossible to 
recount all the whimsical figures that 
they sometimes make by their Antick 
Dresses. Besides Carolina is a warm 
Country, and very Mild in its Winters, 
to what Virginia, Maryland, Pennsyl- 
vania, New York and the Jerseys, and 
New England are; wherefore our In- 
dian habit very much differs from the 
dresses that appear among the Sav- 
ages who inhabit those cold Countries; 
in regard to their cheapest cloathing 
for the Winter Season is made of Furs 
of Bever, Raccoon and other Northern 
Furs, that our Climate is not acquaint- 
ed withal, they producing some Furs, 
as the Monack, Moor, Marten, Black 
Fox, and others, to us unknown. 

Their Dress in Peace and War is 
quite different. Besides when they go 
to War, their Hair is combed out by 
the Women, and done over very much 
with Bears Grease, and Red Root, with 
Feathers, Wings, Rings, Copper and 
Peak, or Wampum, in their Ears. 
Moreover, they buy Vermillion of the 
Indian Traders, wherewith they paint 
their faces all over red, and commonly 
make a Circle of Black about one eye, 
and another Circle of white about the 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



113 



other, whilst others bedawb their 
Faces with Tobacco-Pipe Clay, Lamp- 
Black, Black Lead, and divers other 
Colours, which they make with the 
several sorts of Minerals and earths 
that they get in their Different Parts 
of the Country, where they Hunt and 
Travel. When these Creatures are thus 
painted, they make the most frightful 
Figures that can be imitated by men, 
and seem more like Devils than Hu- 
mane Creatures. You may be sure that 
they are about some Mischief, when 
you see them thus painted; for in all 
the Hostilities which have ever been 
acted against the English at any time 
in several of the Plantations of Amer- 
ica, the Savages appeared in the Dis- 
guise whereby they might never be 
discovered, or known by any of the 
Christians, that should happen to see 
them after they had made their es- 
cape; for it is impossible ever to know 
an Indian under these colours, al- 
though he has been at your home a 
thousand times, and you know him at 
other times as well as you do any Per- 
son living. As for their Women they 
never use any paint on their Faces; 
neither do they ever carry them along 
with them into the field, when they i*-- 
tend any Expedition, leaving them at 
home with the old Men and Children. 

Some of the Indians wear great Bobs 
in the Holes thereof they put Eagles 
and other Birds Feathers for a Trophy. 
When they kill any Fowl they com- 
monly pluck off the downy Feathers, 
and stick them all over their Heads. 
Some (Both Men and Women) wear 
great Necklaces of their Money, made 
of Shells. They often wear Bracelets 
made of Brass, and sometimes of Iron 
Wire. 

Their Money is of different sorts, but 
ail made of Shells, which are found on 
the Coast of Carolina, which are very 
large and Hard, so that they are very 
difHcult to cut. Some English smiths 



have tried to drill this sort of shell 
money, and thereby thought to get ad- 
vantage, but it proved so hard that 
nothing could be gained. They often- 
times make of this shell a sort of 
Gorge, which they wear about their 
Neck in a String; so it hangs on their 
Collar, whereon sometimes is engraven 
a Cross, or some odd sort of figure 
which comes next in their fancy. There 
are other sorts, valued at a Doe-Skin, 
yet the Gorges will sometimes sell for 
three or ,four Buck-Skins ready dress'd. 
There be others, that eight of them go 
readily for a Doe-Skin, but the general 
and Current Species of all the Indians 
in Carolina, and, I believe, all over the 
Continent, so far as the Bay of Mex- 
ico, is that which we call Peak and 
Ronoak, but Peak more especially. 
This is that which at New York they 
call Wampum, and have used it as 
Current Money among the Inhabitants 
for a great many years. This is what 
many writers call Porcelan, and is 
made at New York in great quantities, 
and with us in some Lieasure. Five 
Cubits of this purchase a Dressed Doe- 
Skin, and seven or eight make so much 
of this Wampum, for five or ten times 
the Value; for it is made out of a vast 
great Shell, of which the Country af- 
fords Plenty; where it is ground small- 
er than the small end of a Tobacco- 
Pipe, or a large Wheat-Straw. Four 
or five of these make an inch, and 
every one is to be drilled through and 
made as smooth as Glass, and so 
strung as Beads are, and a cubit of the 
Indian measure contains as much in 
length, as will reach from the elbow to 
Che end of the little finger. They 
never stand to question whether it is a 
tall man or a short one, that measure 
it; but if this Wampum Peak be black 
or Purple, as some part of that Shell 
is, then it is twice the Value. This 
the Indians grind on stones and other 



114 



IvAwson's history 



things until they make it Current, 
but the drilling is the most difficult to 
the Englishmen, which the Indians 
manage with a Nail stuck in a Cane 
or Reed. Thus they roll it continually 
on their Thighs, with their Right 
Hand, holding the Bit of Shell with 
their Left, so in time they drill a Hole 
quite, through it, which is very tedious 
work; but especially in making their 
Ronoak, four of which will scarce 
make one Length of Wampum. The 
Indians are a People that never value 
their Time, so that they can afford to 
make them, and never need to fear the 
English will take the trade out of their 
Hands. This is the Money with which 
you may buy Skins, Furs, Slaves or 
anything the Indians have; it being 
the Mammon (as our Money is to us) 
that entices and persuades them to do 
anything, and part with everything 
they possess, except their Children, 
for Slaves. As for their Wives they 
are often sold, and their Daughters 
Violated for it. With this they buy off 
murders; and whatsoever a Man do 
that is ill, thi-s Wampum will quit him 
of, and make him, in their opinion, 
good and virtuous, though never so 
black before. 

All the Indians give a Name to their 
Children, which is not the same as the 
Fathers or Mothers, but what they 
Fancy. This name they keep (if Boys) 
until they arrive to the age of a War- 
riour, which is 16 or 17 years; then 
they take a name to themselves, some- 
times Eagle, Panther, AUegator. or 
some such wild creature; esteeming 
nothing on earth worthy to give them 
a name, but these Wild Fowl and 
Beast. Some again take the name of a 
Fish, which they keep as long as they 
live. 

The King is the Ruler of the Natioa, 
and has others under him to assist 
him, as his War Captains and Coun- 



sellors, who are pick'd out and chosen 
among the ancientest Men of the Na- 
tion he is King of. These meet him in 
all general Councils and Debates, con* 
cerning War, Peace, Trade, Hunting 
and all the Adventures and Accidents 
of Humane Affairs, which appear 
within their Verge; where all affairs 
are discoursed of and argued pro and 
con, very deliberately, (without mak- 
ing any manner of Parties or Divisions 
for the Good of the Publick; for, as 
they meet there to treat, they dis- 
charge their duty with all the Integrity 
imaginable, never looking towards 
their own interest before the Publick 
Good. After every Man has given his 
Opinion, that which has most Voices, 
or, in Summing up, is found most rea- 
sonable, that they make use of with- 
out any Jars and Wrangling, and put 
it in Execution, the first Opportunity 
that offers. 

The Succession falls not to the 
King's Son, but to his Sister's Sou, 
vA'hich is a sure Way to prevent Impos- 
ters in the Succession. Sometimes they 
Poison the Heir to make way for an- 
other, wihch is not seldom done, when 
they do not approve of the Youth that 
is to succeed them. The King himself 
is commonly Chief Doctor in that Cure. 

They are so well versed in Poison, 
that they are often found to poison 
whole families; nay, most of a town; 
and which is most to be admired, they 
will poison a running Spring, or Foun- 
tain of Water, so that whosoever 
drinks thereof, shall infallably die. 
When the Offender is discovered, his 
very Relations Urge for Death, whom 
nothing will appease but the most cruel 
Torture imaginable, which is executed 
in the most Publick manner that Is 
possible to act such a Tragedy in. For 
all the whole Nation, and all the In- 
dians within a hundred Mile (if it is 
possible to send for them), are sum- 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



115 



moned to come and appear at such a 
place and time, to see and rejoice at 
the Torments and Death of such a 
Person, who is the common and pro- 
fess'd Enemy to all the friendly In- 
dians thereabouts, who now lies under 
the Condemnation of the whole Nation, 
and accordingly is to be put to death. 
Then all appear (Young and Old) from 
all the adjacent Parts, and meet with 
all the Expressions of Joy, to consum- 
mate this Horrid and Barbarous Feast, 
which is carried on after this Dismal 
manner. First they bring the Prisoner 
to the place that is appointed for his 
Execution, where he is set down on 
his Breech on the Ground. Then they 
all get around him and you shall not 
see one sorrowful or dejected Coun- 
tenance amongst them, but all vei-y 
merrily disposed, as if some comedy 
was to be acted, instead of a Tragedy. 
He that is appointed to be the Chief 
Executioner, takes a Knife and bids 
him to hold out his Hands, which ha 
does, and then cuts around the "Wrist 
through the Skin, which is Drawn off 
like a Glove, and flead quite off at the 
Fingers Ends; then they break his 
Joints and Bones and torment him af- 
ter a very inhumane Manner, till some 
Violent Blow perhaps ends his days; 
then they burn him to Ashes and 
throw them down the River. After- 
wards they Eat, Drink and are Merry, 
repeating all the Actions of the Tor- 
mentors and the Prisoner, with a great 
deal of mirth and satisfaction. This 
accusation is laid against an Indian 
Heroe sometimes wrongfully, or when 
they wish to get rid of a Man that has 
more Courage and Conduct than his 
neighbouring Kings or Great Men; 
then they allege the Practice of pois- 
oning Indians against him, and make a 
Rehearsal of every Indian that died for 
a year or two, and say that they were 
poisoned by such an Indian; which re- 



ports stir up all the Relations of the 
deceased against the said Person, and 
by such means make him away pres- 
ently. In some Affairs, these Savages 
are very reserv'd and politick, and will 
attend a long time with a great deal 
of Patience, to bring about their De- 
signs; they being never impatient or 
hasty in bringing about any of their 
Designs of Revenge. 

Now I am gone so far in giving an 
account of the Indian's Temper, I will 
proceed; and can give you no other 
character of them, but that they are a 
very wary People, and are never hasty 
or impatient. They will endure a great 
many Misfortunes, Losses and Dissap- 
pointments without shewing them- 
selves, in the least vex'd or uneasy. 
When they go by Water, if there 
proves a Head Wind, they never vex 
and fret as the Europeans do, and let 
what Misfortune come to them, as wUl 
or can happen, they never relent. Be- 
sides there is one Vice very common 
everywhere, which I never found 
amongst them, which is envying other 
ivlen's Happiness, because their station 
is not equal to, or above their Neigh- 
bours. Of this Sin, I cannot say I ever 
saw an Example, though they are a 
People that set as great a Value upon 
themselves, as any sort of Men in the 
World; upon which account they find 
something valuable in themselves 
above Riches. Thus, he that is a good 
Warriour, is the proudest Creature liv- 
ing, and he that is an expert Hunter is 
esteemed by the People and himself; 
yet all these are Natural Vertues and 
Gifts, and not Riches, which are as 
often in possession of a Fool as a Wise 
Man. Several of the Indians are pos- 
sessed of a great many Skins, Wam- 
pum, Ammunition and what other 
things are esteemed riches amongst 
them; yet such an Indian is no more 
esteemed among them, than any other 



ii6 



lawson's history 



ordinary Fellow, provided he has no 
personal endowments, which are the 
ornaments that must gain him an 
esteem among them; for a great Dealer 
amongst the Indians, is no otherwise 
respected and esteemed, than as a Man 
that strains his Wits, and fatigues 
himself, to furnish others with the 
Necessaries of life, that live much 
easier and enjoy more of the World, 
than he himself does with all his Pelf. 
If they are taken Captives, and ex- 
pect a Miserable exit they Sing; if. 
Death approaches them in Sickness 
they are not afraid of it, nor are any 
heard to say. Grant me some time. 
They know by instinct and daily ex- 
ample that they must die, wherefore 
they have that great and noble Gift to 
submit to everything that happens, 
and value nothing that attacks them. 
Their Cruely to their Prisoners cf 
War is what they are seemingly Guilty 
of an Error in, (I mean as to a natural 
Failing) because they strive to invent 
the most inhumane Butcheries for 
them, that the Devils themselves could 
invent, or hammer out of Hell, they 
esteeming Death no punishment, but 
rather an Advantage to him, that is ex- 
ported out of this into another world. 
Therefore they inflict on them Tor- 
ments, wherein they prolong life in 
that Miserable state as long as they 
can, and never miss skulping of them, 
as they call it, which is to cut off the 
Skin from the Temples, and taking the 
whole Head of Hair with it, as if it 
were a Night-Cap. Sometimes they 
take the top of the Head along with 
it, all which they preserve and care- 
fully keep by them, for a Trophy of 
their Conquest over their Enemies. 
Others keep their Enemies Teeth, 
which are taken in War, while others 
split the Pitch-Pine into Splinters, and 
stick them into the Prisoner's Body yet 
alive. Thus they light them, which 



burn like so many torches; and in this 
manner they make him dance around a 
great Fire, every one buffeting and de- 
riding him, till he expires, when every 
one strives to get a bone or some relic 
of this unfortunate Captive. One cf 
the Young Fellows that has been at 
the Wars, and has had the fortune to 
take a Captive, returns the Proudest 
Creature on the Earth, and sets such 
a Value on Himself that he knows 
not how to retain his Senses. The 
Iroquois, or Sinnagars, are the most 
War-like Indians that we know of, be- 
ing always at War and not to be per- 
suaded from that Way of living by any 
Argument that can be used. If you go 
to persuade them to live peaceably 
with the Tuskeruros, and let them be 
one People, in case those Indians 
desire it and will submit to them, they 
will answer you, that they cannot live 
without War, which they have been 
ever used to; and that if Peace be 
made with the Indians they now war 
withal, they must find out some others 
to Wage War against; for, for them to 
live in Peace ie to live out of their 
element. War, Conquest and Murder 
being what they delight in, and value 
themselves for. When they take a 
Slave, and intend to keep him to work 
in their Fields, they cut the Skin from 
the setting of his Toes to the middle 
of his Foot, so cut off one-half of his 
Feet, wrapping the Skin over the 
Wounds and healing them. By this 
cruel Method the Indian Captive is 
hindered from making his escape, for 
he can neither run fast nor go any- 
where, but his Feet are more easily 
traced and discovered. Yet I know 
one Man who made his escape from 
them, tho' they had thus disabled him, 
as you will see in my Journal. 

The Indians ground their Wlars on 
Enn^iitv, not on Interest, as the Euro- 
oeans do; for the Loss of the Meanest 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



117 



Derson in the N'ation they wi.l go to 
War and lay all at Stake, and Prose- 
cute their design to the utmost; till 
the Nation they were injured by, be 
wholly Destroyed or make them that 
Satisfaction which they demand. They 
are very Politick in Waging and carry- 
ing on their Wars, first by ad\'1sinff 
with all the ancient Men of Conduct 
and Reason, that belong to their Na- 
tion, such as superannuated War-Cap- 
tains, and those that have been Coun- 
sellors for many yeiars, and whose ad- 
vice has commonly succeeded very 
well. They have likewise their FielJ 
Counsellors, who are accustomed to 
Amibuscades, and Surprises, which 
Methods are commonly used by th? 
Savages, for I scarce ever heard of a 
field battle fought amongst them. 

One of their expeditions afforded an 
Instance, worthy of Mention, which 
wias thus: Two Nations of Indians 
here in Carolina were at War with 
each other, and a Party of each were 
in the Forest, ranging to see what 
Elnemies they could take. The lesser 
Number found they were discovered, 
and could not well get over a Rivei 
(that lay betwixt them and their 
home) without engaging the other 
Plarty, whose nurrnber was much the 
greater; so they called a Coanji , 
which met, and baving weighed their 
Present Circumstances with a greac 
deal of Argument and Debate, for a 
considerable time, and found their en- 
emies' Advantage and thtat they cou'.d 
expect no Success in Engaging such an 
unequal number, they at last c^ncui- 
ed on this Strataeem, which, in m-y 
opinion, carried a great deal of Pol- 
icy with it. It was, thiat the same 
Night, they should make a great Fire, 
whidh they were certain would be Dis- 
covered by the adverse Party, and 
then dress up logs of Wood in their 
CLoaths, and make them exactly seem 
like Indians, that were asleep by the 



Fireside: (which is their way when in 
the Woods) so, said they, our Enemies 
will fire upon these Imlages. supposing' 
them to be us, who will lie In Ambus- 
cade, and. after their Guns are un- 
loaded, shall deal well enough with 
them. This result was immediately put 
in Execution, and the fire was made by 
the Side of a Valley, where they lay 
perdu very advantvageously. Thus, a 
little before break of day, (which is 
commonly the Hour they surprise their 
Enemies) the Indians came down to 
their Fire and at once fired in upon 
those Logs in the Indians' Cloaths, 
and run up to them, expecting they 
had killed every Man dead; but they 
found themselves mistaken, for then 
the other Indians, who had lUin all the 
ni^ht stark naked in the Bottom, at- 
tacked them with their Loaded Pieces, 
which so Surprised them that every 
man was taken Prisoner and brought 
in bound to their Town. 

Another Instance was betwixt the 
Machapunga Indians, and the Cora- 
nines, on the Sand-Banks; which was 
as follows: The Machapungas were in- 
vited to a Feast by the Coranines; 
(which two Nations had been a lone 
time at War together, but had lately 
concluded a Peace) Thereupon, the 
Machapunga Indians took the advan- 
tage of coming to the Coranine's Feast, 
which was to avoid all suspicion, and 
their King, who, of a Savage, is a 
great Politician and very stout, order- 
ed all the Men to cari-y their Toma- 
hauks along with them, hidden under 
their Match Coats; which they did, 
and being acquainted when to fall on, 
by the Word given, they 'all (upon 
this design) set forward for the Feast, 
and came to the Coranine town, where 
they had gotten Victuals, Fruit and 
such things as make an Indian Enter- 
tainment, all ready to make these new 
Friends welcome, which they did, and 
after Dinner, towards the Evening, (as 



ii8 



lawson's history 



it is customary among-st tliem) they 
went to dancing, altogether; so when 
the Machapun^a King saw the test 
opportunity to offer, he gave the Word 
and their Men pulled their Torr.ahauks 
from under the Match Coats and IciU- 
ed several and took the rest Prisoners, 
except some few that were not pres- 
ent and four or Ave that escaped. The 
Prisoners they sold as Slaves to the 
Ensrlish. At the time this was done, 
those Indians had nothing but bows 
and Arrows, neither side having Guns. 

The Indians are very Revengeful, 
and never forget an Injury done, till 
they have received Satisfaction. Tet 
they are the freest People from Heats 
and Passions (which possess the Eu- 
ropeans) of any I ever heard of. They 
never call any Man to an account of 
what he did when he was Drunk; but 
say it was the Drink thiat caused his 
misbehaviour; therefore he ought to be 
forgiven. They never frequent a Chris- 
tian's House that is given to Passion, 
nor will they ever buy or sell with 
him, if they can get the same Commo- 
dities of any other Person; they say 
such Men are Mad Wolves and no more 
Men. 

Thev know not wh>at Jeaiojsy is, be- 
cause they never think their Wives are 
Inconstant, unless they are Eye-wit- 
nesses thereof. They are generally very 
bashful, espiecially the young Maids, 
who when they come into a strange 
Cabin, where they are not acquainted, 
never ask for ^anything, though never 
so hungry or thirsty, but tit down 
wi hout speaking a word (be it ever so 
loi g) till some of the House asks them 
a question, or falls into Discourse, 
with the Stranger. I never saw a Scold 
amongst them, and to their Children 
they are extraordinary tender and in- 
dulgent. Neither did I ever see a 
Parent correct a Child, excepting one 
Woman Who was the Kings Wife, 
and she, indeed, did possess a temper 



that is not commonly found amongst 
them. They are free fromi all manner 
of Compliments, except shaking of 
Hands, and Scratching on the Shoul- 
der, which two are the greatest mark* 
of friendship, that can be shewed one 
to another. They cannot express fare 
you well, but when they leave thes 
House will say, I go straightway, 
which is to intimate their Denarture; 
and if the Man of the House has any 
Message to send by the gt-ing Man, 
he may acquaint him there wiih. Their 
Tongues allow not to say, Sir, I am 
your servant, because they have no 
different titles for Man, cnly King, 
War-Captain, Old Man or Young Man, 
which respects the Stiations and Cir- 
cumstances Men are employed in, and 
arrived to, and not Ceremony. As for 
Servant, they have no such thing, ex- 
cept Slave, and their Dogs, Oats, Tame 
or Domestick Beasts, and Birds, are 
called bv the same Name; for the In- 
dian Word for Slave includes them all. 
So when an Indian tells you he has got 
a Slave for you, it miay (in general 
Terms, as they use) be a young Eagle, 
a Dos, Otter, or any other thing of 
that nature, which is obseouiously to 
denend on the Master for its Susten- 
ance. 

They are never fearful in the night, 
nor do the thoughts of spirits tioub'e 
them; such as the many Hobgoblins 
and Buffbears as that we suck in with 
our milk, and the foolery of our Nurses 
and Servants suggest to us; who, by 
their idle Tales of Fairies and 
Witches, Make Imipressions on our ten- 
der Years, that at Maturity we carry 
Pigmiies' Souls in Giant Bodies and 
ever after are theiefcy ro much derriv- 
ed of reason, and Unmann'd, as never 
to be Masters of half the Braverv Na- 
ture desierned for us. 

Not but what the Indians have as 
Many Lying Stories of Spirits and Con- 
jurers as any people in the Wcrid; 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



119 



but they tell it with no disadvantiase 
to themselves; for the great esleem 
which the old Men bring themselvts to 
is by making the others believe their 
Familiarity with Devils and Spirits 
and how great a Correspondence they 
have therewith, which if it once gains 
credit, they are ever after held in the 
greatest Veneration, and whalevet- 
they after impose on the People, is re- 
ceived as Infallible. They are so little 
Startled at the thoughts of Ancther 
World that they not seldom murder 
Themselves, as for instance a Bear 
River Indian, a very likely young Fel- 
low, about 20 years of Age, whose 
Mother was angiy at his drinking ot 
too much Rum. and chid him for it, 
thereupon he replied he would have 
her satisfied, and he would do the like 
no more; upon which he made his 
Words good, for he went aside and 
shot himself dead. This was a son of 
the Politick KLing of the Machapung^a, 
I SDoke of before, and was the naost 
Cunniner of any Indian I ever Met 
withal. 

Most of the Savages are much ad- 
dicted to Drunkenness and Vice they 
never were acquainted with, till the 
Christians came amongst them. Some 
of them refrain from drinking strong 
liquors, but very few of that sort are 
found amongst them. Their chief 
Liquor is Rum, without any mixture. 
This the English bring an-.onsst them, 
and buv Skins, Furs, Slaves and ether 
of their Commodities therewith. They 
never are contented with a little, but 
when once besun, they mjust make 
themselves quite drunk; otherwise 
they will never rest, but sell all they 
have in the World, rather than not 
have their full dose. In these drunken 
r'rolics, which are always carried on ir 
the Night, they sometimes murder one 
another, fall into the Fire, fall down 
Precipices, and break the^r Necks. 
with several other Misfortunes which 



this drinking of Rum brings upon 
them; and tho' they are sensible of it, 
yet they have no Power to refrain from 
this Enemy. About five years ago, 
when Landgrave Daniel was Gover- 
nour, he summoned all the Indian 
Kines and Rulers to Meet, and in a 
full meeting of the Government and 
Council with those Indi^ans, they 
aereed upion a firm Peace, and the In- 
dian Rulers desired no Rum might be 
sold them, which was granted and a 
Law made, that inflicted a Penalty to 
those that sold Rurm to the Heathens: 
but it Was never s;.rictly obsezvei, and 
besides the young Indians were so dis- 
gusted at that ariicle, that they 
threatened to kill the Indians that 
made it, unless it was laid aside, and 
they might have Rum sold them, when 
they went to the Englishmen's houses 
to buy it. 

Some of the heathens are eg verv 
poor that they have no manner of 
Cloaths. save a Wad of Moss to hide 
their Nakedness. They are either 
lusty and will not work; otherwise 
they are giving to Gaming and 
Drunkenness, yet these get Victuals 
as well of the rest, because that Is 
common amongst them. If ihey are 
caught in Theft, they are slaves until 
they repay the Person (as I mentioned 
before) but to steal from the Enelish 
they reckon no harm. Not but that I 
have known som.e few Savages that 
have been as free from theft as any 
of the Christians. When they have a 
desire to lie with a Woman, which they 
cannot obtain any otherwise than by 
a larger reward than they aie able to 
give, then they strive to make her 
drunk, which a great many of them 
will be. then they take the advantage 
to do with them what they please, and 
sometimes in their Drunkenness cut off 
their Hair and sell it to the Enslish, 
which is the greatest affront that can 
be offered them. They never value 



I20 



i.a.wson's history 



time, for if they be going out to Hunt, 
Pish, or any other indifferent Business 
you may keep themi in talk as long 
as you please, so you but keep them 
In Discourse, and seemed pleased with 
their Company; yet none are more ex- 
peditious and safer Messengers than 
they, when any extraordinary Business 
that they are sent about requires it. 

When they are upon traveling the 
Woods, they keep a constant Pace, 
neither will they stride over 'a tree 
that lies across the Path, tout always 
go round it, which is quite contrary to 
the custom of the English and other 
Europeans. When they cut with a 
Knife, the edge is toward them, where- 
as we always cut and whittle from us. 
Nor did I ever see one of them left- 
handed. Before the Christians came 
amongst them, not knowing the use of 
Steel and Flints, they got their fire 
with Sticks, which by vehement colli- 
sion, or Rubbing together, take Fire. 
This method they will sometimes prac- 
tise now, when it has happened thro- 
rainy weather, or some other accident, 
that they have wet their spiunk, wh.ch 
is a sort of soft, corky substance, gen- 
erally of a Cinnamon Colour, and 
grows in the Concave part of an Oak, 
Hiccory, and several other Woods, be- 
ing dug out with an Ax, and always 
kept by the Indians, instead of Tinder 
or Touch-Wood, both which it ex- 
ceeds. You are to understand that the 
two sticks which they use to strike fire 
withal, are never of one sort of Woof, 
but always differ from eiach other. 

They are expert Travellers, and tho' 
they have not use of our artificial Com- 
pass, yet they understand the North 
Point exactly, let them be in never so 
great a wilderness. One Guide is a 
short Moss, that grows upon some 
trees, exactly on the north side thereof. 

Besides they have n'ames for eight of 
the thirty-two points; and call the 
Winds by their Several Names, as we 



do. but indeed more properly, for the 
North- Wind is called the Cold Wind; 
the Northeast the Wet Wind; the 
South the Warm Wind; and so aaree- 
ably to the rest. Sometimes it happens, 
that they have a large River or Dake 
to jDass over, and the Weather is vary 
foggy, as it often happens in the 
Spring and flail of the Leaf, so that 
they cannot see wihich course to stear. 
In such Case thev, toeing on one side 
of the River, or Lake, know well 
enough what Course such a Place, 
(which they intend for) bears from 
them. Therefore they get a gieat many 
sticks and chunks of wood, in their 
Canoe, and then set off directly for 
their Port, and now and then throw 
over la Piece of Wood, which directs 
them by seeing how the stick bears 
from theCanoe stern, which they al- 
ways observe to keep right aft; and 
this is the Indian compass by which 
they will go over a broad Water of ten 
or twenty Leagues wide. They will 
find the head of any River, though it 
is five or six hundred miles off, and 
they were never there in their lives 
before: as is often proved by their ap- 
pointing to meet on the Head of such 
a Ri\'er, v.'here porhaps none of them 
ever was before, but where they shall 
rendezvous exactly at the prefixed 
time, and if they meet with any ob- 
struction, they shall leave certain 
marks in the way, where they that 
come after will understand how many 
have passed by alre'adv, and wh.ch 
way they have gone. Besides, in their 
War expeditions they have very cer- 
tain Hieroglyphi'cks, whereby each 
party informs the other of the success 
or Losses they have met withal; all 
of which is so exactly performed by 
their Sylvan Marks and Characters 
that they are never at a loss to un- 
derstand one another. Yet there was 
never found any letters amiong the 
Savages of Caro'ina; nor, I believe, 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



121 



amon^ any other natives of America, 
that were possessed of any Manner of 
Writing or Learning, throughout all 
the Discoveries of the New Woild. 
They will draw Maps very exactly of 
all the Rivers, Towns, Mountains, and 
Roads, or what you shall inquire of 
them, which you may draw by their 
Directions and come to a small Matter 
of Latitude, reckoning- by their day's 
Journeys. These nraaps they will draw 
in the Ashes of the Fire, and some- 
times upon a Mat or piece of Bark. I 
have Diut a Pen and Ink into a Sav- 
age's Hand, and he has drawn the Riv- 
ers, Bays and other parts of the Coun- 
try, which afterwards I have found to 
agree with a great deal of Nicety. Bat 
you must be very much in their fav- 
our, otherwise they will never mike 
these Discoveries to you, especially ,if 
it be in their own Quarters. And as for 
Mines of Silver and other Metal, we 
are siatisfied we have enow, and those 
very rich, in Carolina, and its adja- 
cent Parts; some of which the Indians 
are acquainted withal, although no in- 
quiries thereof are made, but what 
came and were discovered by Chance, 
yet thev ssuy, it is this metal that the 
English covet, as they do their Peak 
and Ronoak. and that we have gained 
Ground for them wherever we have 
come. Now, say they, if we should 
discover these Minerals to the Enerlish, 
they would settle at or near thess 
Mountains, and bereave us of the best 
Hunting Quarters we have, as they 
have already done where^ver they 
have inha;bitedj so by that means we 
shall be driven into some unknown 
country, to live, hunt, and get our 
bread in. These are the reasons that 
the Savages give, for not making 
known what they are acquainted with- 
al, of that Nature. And, indeed, all 
Men that have ever gone upon those 
Discoveries, allow them to be good; 
more especially my ingenious Friend, 



Mr. Francis Louis Mitchell, of Bern, 
in Switzerland, who has been for sev- 
eral years, very indefatigable and 
strict in his discoveries amongst those 
vast Ledges of Mounttains, and spa- 
cious Tracts of Land, lying towards 
the Heads of the Great Bays and Riv- 
ers of Virginia and Maryland, and 
Pennsylvania, where he has discovered 
a spacious Country inhabited by none 
but the Savages, and not many of 
them; who yet are of a very friendlv 
nature to the Christians. This Gen- 
tleman has been employed by the Can- 
ton of Bern, to find out a tract of 
Land In the English America, where 
that Republick might settle some of 
their People, which Proposal, I believe, 
is now in a fair way towiard a Conclu- 
sion, between Her Majesty of Great 
Britain and that Canton. Which 
must needs be of a great advantage 
to us both, and as for ourselves. I be- 
lieve, no Man that is in his Witi?, and 
understands the Situation and affairs 
in America, but will allow, no thins 
can be of more security, and advan- 
tage to the Crown and Subjects of 
Gretat Britain, than to have our Fron- 
tiers secured by a War-Like People, 
and our Friends, as the Switzers are; 
especially ,when we have more Indians 
than we can civilize, and so manv 
Christian enemies lying on the back o- 
us. that we do not know how long or 
short a time it be before they mav 
visit us. Add to these, the Effects and 
Products that may be expected from 
those Mountains, which may hereaf- 
ter prove of great advantage to the 
British Monarchy, and none more tit 
than an industrious people, bred in a 
Mountainous Country, and inur'd to 
all the Patieues of War and Travel, 
to improve a Country. Thus we have 
no room to doubt, but as soon as any 
of these Parts are seated by the Switz- 
ers, a great many Britains wi 1 strive 
to live amongst them, for the benefit 



122 



lawson's history 



of the sweet air and healthful Climate 
which that country affords, were it 
only for the cultivation of Hemp, Flax, 
Wine and other valuable Stapleg, 
which those People are fuly acquaint- 
ed withal; not to mention the advan- 
tages already discovered by that 
worthy gentleman I just now spcke of, 
who is hishly deserving of the con- 
duct and Management of such an af- 
fair, as that Wise Canton has en- 
trusted him withal. 

When these Savages go a hunting, 
they commonly go out in great Num- 
bers, and oftentimes a great many 
days journey from home, beginning 
at the coming in of Winter; that is 
when the Leaves are fallen from the 
Trees, and are becoming Dry. 'Tis 
then they burn the Woods, by set- 
ting fire on the Leaves, and wither'd 
Bent and Grass, which they do with 
a Match made of the Black Moss that 
hangs on the Trees in Carolina, and 
is sometimes above six foot long. 
This, when dead, becomes black, (tho' 
of an Ash-Colour before) and will then 
hold fire as well as the best match 
we have in Europe. In Places where 
this Moss is not found, (as towards 
the Mountains) they make Lintels of 
the Bark of Cypress beaten, which 
serves as well. Thus they go and fire 
the Woods for Many Miles, and drive 
the Deer and other Game into small 
Necks of Land and Isthmus's, where 
they kill and destroy what they please. 
In these Hunting-Quarters they have 
their Wives and Ladies of the Camp, 
where they Eat all the Fruits and 
Dainties of that Country and live in 
all the Mirth and Jollity, which is 
Possible for such People to enter- 
tain themselves withal. Here it is that 
they get their Complement of Deer- 
Skins and Furs to trade with the 
English, (the Deer Skins being in Sea- 
son in Winter, which is contrary to 
England.) All small game, as Tarkies, 



Ducks and small Vermine, they com- 
monly kill with bow and arrow, think- 
ing it not worthy throwing Powder 
and Shot after them. Of Turkies they 
have abundance, especially in Oak- 
Land, as most of it is that lies any 
distance backwards. I have been of- 
ten in their Hunting-Quarters, where 
a roasted or barbakued Turkey, eaten 
with Bear's Fat, is held a good Dish; 
and indeed I approve of it very well; 
for the Bear's Greese is the sweetest 
and least offensive to the stomach (as 
I said before) of any Fat of animals 
I ever tasted. The Savage Men never 
beat their corn to make bread; but 
that is the Woman's work, especially 
the Girls, of whom you shall see four 
beating with long great pestils in a 
narrow wooden mortar; and every one 
keeps her stroke so exactly, that 'tis 
worthy of admiration. Their Cookery 
continues from Morning until Night. 
The Hunting makes them Hungry and 
the Indians are a People that eat 
very often, not seldom getting up 
at midnight to eat. They Plant a 
great many sorts of Pulse, part of 
which they keep green in Summer, 
keeping great quantities of their Win- 
ter store, which they carry along with 
them into the Hunting-Quarters, and 
eat them. 

At their setting out, they have 
Indians to attend their Hunting 
Camp, that are not good and expert 
Hunters; therefore are employ'd to 
carry burdens, to get Bark for the Cab- 
ins and other servile work; also to 
go backward and forward to their 
Towns, to carry News to the old Peo- 
ple, whom they leave behind them. The 
Women are forced to carry their Loads 
of Grain and other Provisions, and 
get Fire- Wood; for a good Hunter or 
Warrior in these expeditions, is em- 
ploy'd in no other business than the 
Affairs of Game and Battle. The Wild 
Fruits, which are dry'd in Summer 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



123 



over Fires, on Hurdles and in the 
Sun, are now brought into the Field; 
as are likewise the Cakes and Quid- 
donies of Peaches, and that Fruit and 
Bilberries dry'd, of which they stew 
and make Fruit, Bread and Cakes. In 
some parts where Pigeons are penti- 
ful, they get of their Fat enough to 
supply their Winter Stores. Thus they 
abide in these quarters all the Winter 
long, till the time approach for plant- 
ing their Maiz and other fruits. In 
these quarters at spare hours the Wo- 
men make Baskets and Mats to lie 
upon, and those that are not extra- 
ordinary Hunters, make Bowls, Dish- 
es and spoons of Gum- Wood, and the 
Tulip-Tree, others (where they find a 
vein of White Clay fit for that pur- 
pose) make Tobacco-Pipes, all which 
are often transported to other Indians 
that have perhaps greater Plenty of 
Deer and other Game; so they buy, 
(with these Manufactures) their Raw- 
Hides with the Hair on, which our 
neighbouring Indians bring to their 
Towns, and, in the summertime make 
the Slaves and sorry Hunters dress 
them, the Winter Sun being not strong 
enough to dry them; and those that 
are dry'd in the Cabins are black and 
nasty with the Light-Wood Smoke, 
which they commonly burn. Their 
way of dressing their Skins is by 
soaking them in Water, so they get 
the Hair off with an Instrument made 
of the Bone of a Deer's Foot; yet 
some use a sort of Iron Drawing Knife, 
which they purchase of the English, 
and after the Hair is off they dissolve 
Bear's Brains, (which before-hand are 
made in a Cake and baked in the 
Embers) in a Bowl of Water, so soak 
the Skins therein, till the Brains have 
sucked up the Water; then they dry 
it gently and keep working it with an 
Oyster Shell, or some such thing, to 
scrape withal, till it is dry; whereby 
it becomes soft and pliable. Yet those 



so dress'd will not endure wet, but 
becomes hard thereby; which to pre- 
vent they either cure them in Smoke, 
or tan them with Bark, as before ob- 
served; not but that the young Indian 
Corn, beaten to a Pulp, will effect the 
same as the Brains. They are not 
only good Hunters of the Wild Beasts 
and Game of the Forest, but very 
expert in taking Fish of the Waters 
and Rivers near which they inhabit, 
and are acquainted withal. Thus they 
that live a great way up the Rivers 
practise striking Sturgeon and Rock- 
Fish, or Bass, when they come up 
the Rivers to spawn; besides the vast 
shoals of Sturgeon which they kill 
and take with Snares, as we do Pike 
in Europe. The Herrings in March 
and April run a great way up the 
Rivers and fresh Streams to spawn, 
where the Savages make great Wares, 
with Hedges, and hinder their passage 
only in the Middle, where an artificial 
Pond is made to take them in; so that 
they cannot return. This method is in 
use all over the fresh Streams, to catch 
Trout and the other species of Fish 
which those streams afford. Their tak- 
ing of Craw-Fish is so pleasant that 
I cannot pass it without mention: 
When they have a mind to get these 
Shell-Fish, they take a piece of Veni- 
son, and half barbakue or roast it; 
then they cut it into thin Slices, which 
slices they stick through with reeds 
about six inches asunder, betwixt piece 
and piece; then the Reeds are made 
sharp at one end; and so they stick 
a great many of them down in the 
Water (thus baited) in the small 
Brooks and Runs, which the Craw- 
Fish frequent. Thus the Indians sit 
by and tend those baited Sticks, every 
now and then taking them up to see 
how many are at the bait; where they 
generally find abundance, so take them 
off and put them in a Basket for the 
purpose, and stick the reeds down 



124 



lawson's history 



again. By this Method, they will, in 
a little time, catch several bushels, 
which are as good as any I ever eat. 
Those Indians that frequent the Salt- 
Waters, take abundance of Fish, some 
very large, and of several sorts, which 
to preserve, they first barbakue them, 
then pull the Fish to pieces, so dry it 
in the Sun, whereby it keeps for 
Transportation; as for Scates, Oysters, 
Cockles, and several sorts of Shell-Fish 
they open and dry them upon Hur- 
dles, having a constant fire under 
them. The Hurdles are made of Reeds 
or Canes, in the shape of a Gridiron. 
Thus they dry several Bushels of these 
Fish, and keep them for their Necessi- 
ties. At the time when they are on 
the Salts, and Sea-Coast, they have 
another Fishery, that is for a little 
Shell-Fish, which those in England call 
Blackmoors Teeth. These they catch 
by tying Bits of Oysters to a long 
String, which they lay in such places 
as they know those Shell-Fish haunt. 
These Fish get hold of the Oysters 
and suck them in, so that they pull 
up those long strings and take great 
Quantities of them, which they carry 
a great way into the Main-Land, to 
trade with the remote Indians, where 
they are of great value; but never 
near the Sea, where they are common; 
therefore not esteemed. Besides the 
Youth and Indian Boys go in the 
night, and one holding a Light-Wood 
torch, the other has a Bow and Ar- 
row, and the fire directing him to see 
the Fish, he shoots them with the 
Arrows; and thus they kill a great 
many of the smaller Fry and some- 
times pretty large Ones. It is an es- 
tablished Custom amongst all these 
Natives that the young Hunter never 
eats of that Buck, Bear, Fish or any 
other game, which happens to be the 
first they kill of that sort; because 
they believe if they eat thereof, they 
would never thereafter be for- 



tunate in Hunting. The like fool- 
ish ceremony they hold, when they 
have made a Ware to catch these fish 
withal; if a big belly'd Woman eat 
of the first fish that is caught in it, 
they say that Ware will never take 
much Fish; and as for killing of 
Snakes, they avoid it, if they lie in 
their Way, because their opinion is 
that some of the Serpents Kindred 
would kill some of the Savages Rela- 
tions that should destroy him. They 
have thousands of these foolish Cere- 
monies and Beliefs which they are 
strict observers of. Moreover several 
Customs are found in some Families, 
which others keep not; as for example 
two families of the Machapunga In- 
dians, use the Jewish customs of Cir- 
cumcision, and the rest do not; neither 
did I ever know any others amongst 
the Indians that practis'd any such 
thing; and perhaps, if you ask them, 
what is the reason they do so, they 
will make you no manner of Answer; 
which is so much as to say, I will 
not tell you. Many other Customs 
they have for which they will render 
no reason or Account; and to pretend 
to give a true Description of their Re- 
ligion, it is impossible, for there are 
a great many of their Absurdities, 
which, for some reason, they reserve 
as a secret amongst themselves; or 
otherwise they are jealous of their 
Weakness in the pi'actising of them; 
so that they never acquaint any Chris- 
tians with the Knowledge thereof, let 
Writers pretend what they will; for 
I have known them amongst their 
Idols and Dead Kings in their Quiogo- 
zon for several Days, where I could 
never get admittance, to see what 
they were doing, though I was at great 
friendship with the King and Great 
Men; but all my Persuasions availed 
me nothing. Neither were any but the 
King, with the Conjurer, and some 
old Men, in the House; as for the 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



125 



young Men and chiefest Numbers of 
the Indians, they were kept as Ignor- 
ant of what the Elders were doing as 
myself. 

They all believe that this World is 
round, and that there are two Spirits, 
the Good and the Bad one; The Good 
one they reckon to be the Author and 
Maker of everything, and say that it 
is he that gives them the Fruits of 
the Earth, and taught them to Hunt, 
Fish and be wise enough to over- 
power the Beasts of the Wilderness 
and all other Creatures, that they 
may be assistant, and beneficial to 
Man; to which they add that the 
Quera or Good Spirit, has been very 
kind to the Englishmen, to teach them 
to make Guns and Ammunition, be- 
sides a great many other Necessaries 
that are helpful to man, all which they 
say will be delivered to them when 
the Good Spirit sees fit. They do not 
believe that God punishes any Per- 
son, either in this Life, or that to 
come; but that he delights in doing 
good, and in giving the Fruits of the 
Earth, and in instructing us in mak- 
ing several useful and ornamental 
things. They say it is a bad Spirit 
(who lives separate from the good one) 
that torments us with Sicknesses, Dis- 
appointments, Losses, Hunger, Travel, 
and all the Misfortunes that Human 
Life is incident to. How they are 
treated in the next World I have al- 
ready mentioned, and, as I said be- 
fore, they are very resolute in dying, 
when in the hands of Savage Ene- 
mies; yet I saw one of their young 
Men, a very likely Person, condemn'd 
on a Sunday for killing a Negro, and 
burning the House. I took good no- 
tice of his behaviour when he was 
brought out of the House to die, 
which was the next Morning after 
Sentence, but he changed his Counte- 
nance with Trembling, and was in the 
greatest Fear and Agony. I never saw 



any Person under his Circumstances, 
which perhaps might be occasioned by 
his being delivered up by his own 
Nation (which was the Tuskeruro's) 
and executed by us, that are not their 
Common Enemies, though he met with 
more favor than he would have re- 
ceived at the Hands of the Savages; 
for he was only hanged on a Tree, 
near the place where the Murder was 
committed; and the three Kings that 
just the Day before showed such a 
Reluctancy to deliver him up (but 
would have given another in his 
room) when he was Hanged, pulled 
him by the Hand and said. Thou wilt 
never play any more Rogues Tricks 
in this World; whither art thou gone 
to shew thy Tricks now? Which shows 
these Savages to be what they really 
are, (viz) a People that will save their 
own Men if they can, but if the Safety 
of all the People lies at Stake, they 
will deliver up the most innocent Per- 
son living, and be so far from Con- 
cern'd when they have made them- 
selves easy thereby, that they will 
laugh at their Misfortunes, and never 
pity or think of them more. 

The Priests are the Conjurers and 
Doctors of the Nation. I shall men- 
tion some of their Methods and Prac- 
tises; and so leave them to the judg- 
ment of the People. As I told you be- 
for, the Priests make their Orations 
at every Feast or other Great Meet- 
ing of the Indians. I happened to be 
at one of these great Meetings, which 
was at the Funeral of one of these 
Tuskeruro Indians, that was slain with 
lightning at a Feast, the day before, 
where I was amongst the rest. It was 
in July and a very Fair Day, where 
in the afternoon, about six or seven 
a Clock, as they were dealing out their 
Victuals, there appeared a little Black 
Cloud to the Northwest, which spread 
and brought with it Rain, Wind and 
Lightning; so we went out from the 



126 



lawson's history 



Place where we were all at Victuals, 
and went down to the Cabins, where 
I left the Indians and went to lie in 
my Canoe, which was convenient 
enough to keep me dry. The Light- 
ning came so terrible, and down in 
long streams, that I was afraid it 
would have taken hold of a Barrel of 
Powder I had in my Vessel, and so 
blow me up; but it pleased God that 
it did me no harm; yet the Violence 
of the Storm had blown all the Water 
away, where I rid at Anchor, so that 
my Canoe lay dry, and some Indian 
Women came with Torches in their 
Hands to the side of the Canoe, and 
told me an Indian was killed with 
Lightning. The next day, (I think) 
he was buried, and I stayed to see 
the Ceremony, and was very tractable 
to help the Indians to trim their 
Reeds, and make the Coffin, which 
pleased them very much, being be- 
cause I had a Mind to see the Inter- 
ment. Before he v/as interr'd accord- 
ing to their Custom, they dealt every 
one some hot Victuals, which he took 
and did what he would with. Then 
the Doctor began to talk and told the 
people what Lightning was, and that 
it kill'd everything that dwelt upon 
the Earth; nay the very Fishes did 
not escape, for it often reach'd the Por- 
poises and other Fish, and destroyed 
them; that everything strove to shun 
it except the Mice, who, he said were 
the busiest in eating the Corn in their 
Fields when it was lightning the Most. 
He added that no Wood or Tree could 
withstand it, except the Black Gum, 
and that it would run around that 
Tree a great many times, to enter 
therein, but could not effect it. Now 
you must understand, that sort of Gum 
will not split or rive; therefore I sup- 
pose the story must arise from thence. 
At last he began to tell the most ri- 
diculous absurd Parcel of Lyes about 
Lightning that could be; as that an 



Indian of that Nation had once got 
Lightning in the Likeness of a Part- 
ridge; That no other Lightning could 
harm him, whilst he had that about 
him; and that after he had kept it 
for several years it got away from 
him; so that he then became as liable 
to be struck as any other person. 
There was present at the same time 
an Indian that had liv'd from his 
youth chiefly in an English house; so 
I call'd him and told him what a 
Parcel of Lyes the Conjurer told, not 
doubting that he thought so as well 
as I, but found to the contrary: For 
he replied that I was much mistaken, 
for that Old Man (who I believe was 
upwards of an Hundred Years old) did 
never tell Lyes; and, as for what 
he said, it was very true, for he knew 
it himself to be so. Thereupon, seeing 
the Fellow's Ignorance, I talked no 
more about it. Then the Doctor pro- 
ceeded to tell a long Tale of a Rattle- 
Snake, which, a great while ago, lived 
by a Creek in that River (which was 
Neus) and that it kill'd abundance of 
Indians, but last a Bald Eagle killed 
it and they were rid of a Serpent 
that used to devour Great Canoes full 
of Indians, at a time. I have been 
something tedious upon this subject, on 
purpose to shew what strange ridicu- 
lous stories these Wretches are inclina- 
ble to believe. I suppose these Doctors 
understand a little better themselves, 
than to give credit to any such Fcol- 
eries; for I reckon them amongst the 
cunningest Knaves in all the Pack. I 
will therefore begin with their Phys ck 
and Surgery, which is next. You must 
know that the Doctors cr Conjurers, to 
gain a greater Credit aniongst thesa 
People, tell them that all Distempers 
are the effects of Evil Spirits, cr the 
Bad Spirit which has struck them with 
this or that Malady; therefore none 
of these Phyficims underiakes any 
Distemper, but that he comes, to an 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



127 



Exorcism, to effect the Cure, and ac- 
quaints the sick piTty's frends th it 
he must converse "wi'h the Go d Spirit 
to know whether the patient will re- 
cover or not: if so. then he will drive 
out the Bad Spirit, and the Pati ;nt will 
become well. Now the general way of 
their behaviour in curing the Sick, (^ 
Kreat deal of which I have seen a'^d 
shall give some account thereof, in as 
brief a manner as possible) is, when 
as Indian is Sick, if they think there 
is much Danger of Life, and that he 
is a great Man or hath good friends, the 
Doctor is sent for. As soon as th- 
Doctor comes to the Cabin the sck Per- 
son is sat on a Mat or Skin, stark- 
naked, lying on his back, and all un- 
covered except some small t-ifle that 
covers their Nakednes- when rp-. 
otherwise, in very young Childr n. th-r^ 
is nothing about them. In thi- man- 
ner the Patient lies when the Conjurer 
appears; and the King of that Nat>n 
comes to attend him With a Rat'l^ 
made of a Gourd with Pease in it 
This the King delivers into the Doc- 
tor's hand, whilst another bings a 
Bowl of Water and sets it down: then 
the Doctor begins and ulters some few 
Words very softly: afterwards h^ 
smells of the Patients Navel and Belly, 
and sometimes scarifies him a little 
with a flint, or an instrument made 
of rattlesnake's skin for that purpose: 
then he sucks the wounds and gets 
a mouthful of Blood and Serum, but 
Serum chiefly: which, may perhaps b^ 
a better Method in nviny cases, than 
to take away gre'at quantities of Blood, 
as is commonly practised, which he 
spits into the Bowl of Water. Then he 
begins to mutter and talk a space, and 
at last to cut Capers and clap his hands 
on his breech and sides, so that he 
gets into a sweat, so that a Stranser 
would think he was running Mad; now 
and then sucking the Patient, and .so, 
at times, keeps sucking till he has got 



a great quantity of i 1-co! ured natter 
out of the Belly, Arms, Breast, Fore- 
head, Temples, Neck and most p^.tLs, 
still continuing his Grlrmaces, and an- 
tick postures, which are not to be 
matched in Bedlam. At last you will 
see the Doctor all over a dropping 
Sweat and scarce able to utter one 
Word, having quite spent himself: then 
he will cease for a while and so be^in 
ae-ain, till he comes in the same Pitch 
of Raving and Seeming Madness, as b- 
fore (all this time the sick Body never 
so much as moves, though doubtless 
the Lancing and Sucking must b» a 
great punishment to then; bat th^y 
certainly are the patientiest and most 
steady people under any Burden that 
I have ever saw in all my Life.) At 
last the Conjurer makes an end and 
le'ls the Patient's Friends, v/hether the 
Person will Live or Die, and then om 
that waits at this ceremony takes the 
blood away (which remains in a Lump 
in the middle of the Water) and buries 
it. Now, I believe a great deal of im- 
Piosture in these fellows; though 1 
have never seen their judgment fail, 
and I have seen them giA'e their cpn- 
ion after this Manner several times: 
Some afRrm that there is a smell of 
Brim(<='tone in the Cabins when they are 
Conjuring, which I cannot contradict. 
Which way it may come. I will not ar- 
gae, but proceed to a rel ition or two 
which I have from a great menv pe- 
sons, and some of them worthy of 
credit. 

The first is of a certain Indian that 
one rainy night undermined a House 
made of Logs (such as the Swedes in 
America very often make, and are very 
strong) which belonged to Seth South- 
well, Esq., Governor of North Carolina, 
and one of the Proprietors. There was 
but one place the Indian could get in 
at and that was very narrow; the rest 
was secured by having barrels of Pork 
and other provisions set against: the 



128 



lawson's history 



side of the house, so that if this Indian 
had not exactly hit the place he under- 
mined, it would have been impossible 
for him to have got therein, because of 
the full barrels that stood around the 
house, and barricaded it within. The 
Indian stole 60 or 80 dressed deers 
skins, besides Blankets, Powder, Shot 
and Rum, (this being- the Indian store- 
house where the Trading- Goods were 
kept.) Now the Indian had made his 
escape, but dropped some of his goods 
by the way, and they tracked his foot- 
steps and found him to be an Indian, 
then they guessed who it was, because 
none but that Indian had lately been 
near the house. Thereupon the Grovern- 
or sent to the Indian town that he be- 
longed, to which was the Tuskeruros, 
and acquainted them that if they did 
not deliver up the Indian who had 
committed the Robbery, he would take 
a course with them that would not be 
very agreeable. Upon, this, the In- 
dians in the town he belonged to, 
brought him in, bound, and delivered 
him up to the Governor, who laid him 
in Irons. At the same time it happen- 
ed that a Robbery was committed 
among themselves, at the Indian Town, 
and their prisoner was one of their 
Conjurors; so the Indians came down 
to the Governor's house and acquaint- 
ed him what had happened amongst 
them, and that a great quantity of 
Peak was stolen away out of one of 
the cabins, and no one could find out 
the thief, unless he let the Prisoner 
conjure for it, who was the only man 
they had at .making such discoveries. 
The Governor was content he should 
try his skill for them, but not to have 
the Prisoner's Irons taken off, which 
was very well approved of. The In- 
dian was brought out in his fetters, 
where were the Governor's Family, 
and several others of the Neighborhood, 



now living, to see this experiment; 
wihich he performed thus: 

The Conjuror ordered three fires to 
be made, in a Triangular Form, which 
was accordingly done, then he was 
hood- winked very securely with a 
dressed deer-skin, two or three doubles 
over his face. After he had made some 
motions, as they always do, he went 
directly out of one of the three Gaps, 
as exactly as if he had not been blind- 
folded, and kept muttering to himself, 
having a stick in his hand, with which 
after some time, he struck two strokes 
very hard upon the ground, and made 
thereon a Cross, after which he told 
the Indian's name that had stolen the 
g-oods, and said that he would have a 
Cross on his back; which proved true; 
for when they took and searched him, 
there appeared two g-reat Wheals on 
his back, one across the other; for the 
thief was at Governor Southwell's 
house, and was under no apprehension 
of being discovered. The Indians prof- 
fered to sell him " as a slave to the 
Governor but he refused to buy him, 
so they took him bound away. 

Another instance of the like Nature 
happened at the same House. One of 
the Tuskeruro Kings had brought in a 
slave to the same Governor, to 
whom he had sold him' and be- 
fore he returned fell sick at the 
Governor's House; upon which 
the Doctor that belong'd to this 
King's Nation, was sent for, being- a 
Man that was held to be the greatest 
Conjuror amongst them. It was three 
days before he could arrive, and he ap- 
peared (when he came) to be a very 
little Man, and so old that his hair was 
as white as ever was seen. When he 
approached the sick King he ordered a 
bowl of Water to be brought him, 
and three Chunks of Wood, which was 
immediately done. Then he took the 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



129 



Water and set it by him, and spurted 
a little on him, and with the three 
pieces of Wood he made a Place to 
stand on, whereby he was raised high- 
er; (he being a very low-statured Man) 
then he took a String of Ronoak, which 
is the same as a small string of beads; 
this he held by one end between his 
fingers; the other end touched the 
King's Stomach, as he stood on 
the Logs. Then he began to talk 
and at length the by-standers 
throught really, that they had 
heard somebody talk to them, but saw 
no more than what first came in. At 
last, this String of Beads which hung 
thus perpendicular, turn'd up as an 
Eel would do, and without any motion 
of his they came all up (in a lump) 
under his Hand, and hung so for a con- 
siderable time, he never closing his 
Hand, and at length returned to their 
pristine Length and Shape, at which 
the spectators were much frightened. 
Then he told the Company that he 
would recover, and that his distemper 
would remove into his Leg, all which 
happened to be exactly as the Indian 
Doctor had told. These are Matters of 
Fact, and I can, at this day, prove the 
truth thereof by several substantial 
Evidences, that are Men of Reputation, 
there being more than a dozen present 
when It was performed; most of whom 
are now alive. 

There are a great many other Stories, 
of this Nature, which are seemingly 
true, being told by persons that af- 
firm that they were eye-witnesses 
thereof; as, that they have seen one 
Roncommock, (a Chuwon Indian and 
a great Conjuror) take a reed about 
two foot long in his mouth, and stand 
by a Creek- Side, where he called twice 
or thrice with the Reed in his mouth, 
and at last, has opened his Arms and 
fleed over the Creek, which might be 
near a quarter of a Mile wide or more: 



but I shall urge no Man's belief, but 
tell my own, which is: that I believe 
the two first accounts, which were 
acted at Mr. Southwell's Plantation, as 
firmly as any Man can believe any 
thing of that which is told him by 
honest Men, and he has not seen; not 
at all doubting the credit of my Au- 
thors. 

The Cures that I have seen performed 
by the Indians are too many to relate 
here. So I shall only mention some 
few and their methods. They cure 
Ccald-Head infallibly and never miss. 
Their Chief Remedy, that I have seen 
them make use of, is, the Oil of Acorns, 
cut from which sort of Oak, I am not 
certain. They cure Burns beyond credit. 
I have seen a Man burnt in such a 
manner (when drunk) by falling into 
a fire, that I did not think he would 
ever recover, yet they cured him in ten 
days so that he went about. I knew 
another blown up with Powder and 
they cured him to admiration. I never 
saw an Indian have an Ulcer or foul 
Wound in my life; neither is there any 
such thing to be found amongst them. 
They cure the Pox by a berry, that 
salivates as Mercury does; yet they use 
Sweating and Decoctions very much 
with it; as they do almost on every 
occasion; and when they are thorough- 
ly heated they leap in the Water. The 
Pox is frequent in some of these Na- 
tions; amongst which I knew one Wo- 
man to die of it; and they could not, 
or would not cure her. Before she died 
she was worn away to a skeleton, yet 
she walked up and down to the last. 
We had a planter in Carolina who had 
got an Ulcer in his Leg, which had 
troubled him a great many years; at 
last he applied himself to one of these 
Indian Conjurors, who was a Pampti- 
cough Indian, and was to give the val- 
ue of fifteen shillings for the cure. 
Now, I am not positive whether he 



I30 



lawson's history 



washed the Ulcer with anything, be- 
fore he used what I am now going to 
speak of; which was nothing but the 
rotten doated Grains of Indian Corn, 
beaten to a Powder and the soft down 
growing on a Turkey's Rump. This 
dried up the Ulcer immediately, and no 
Fontanel was made to discharge the 
matter, he remaining a healthful Man 
until the time he had the Misfortune 
to be drowned, which was many years 
after. Another instance, (not of my 
knowledge, but I had it confirmed by 
several dwellers in Maryland, where It 
was done, was of an honest Planter, 
that had been possessed with a strange 
lingering Distemper, not usual amongst 
them, under which he emaciated, and 
grew every month worse than another, 
it having held him several years, in 
which he had made Tryal of several 
Doctors, as they call them, which, I 
suppose, were ship-surgeons. In the 
beginning of this distemper the patient 
was very well to pass, and was pos- 
sessed of several slaves, which the 
Doctors purged all away and the Poor 
Man was so far from mending that he 
grew worse and worse every day. But 
it happened that one day as his Wife 
and he were commiserating his miser- 
able Condition, and that he could not 
expect to recover, but looked for Death 
very speedily, and condoling the Misery 
he should leave his Wife and Family 
In, since all his Negroes were gone. At 
that time, I say, it happened, that an 
Indian was in the same room, who had 
frequented the House for many years 
and so had become as one of the Fam- 
ily, and would sometimes be at this 
Planter's house, and at other times 
amongst the Indians. 

This Savage, hearing what they talk- 
ed of, and having a great Love for the 
Sick Man, made this reply to what he 
had heard. Brother, you have been a 
long time sick; and, I know you have 



given away your Slaves to your Eng- 
lish Doctors; what made you do so and 
now become poor? They do not know 
how to cure you; for it is an Indian 
Distemper, which your People know 
not the Nature of. If It had been an 
English disease probably they would 
have cured you; and had you come to 
me at first I would have cured you for 
a small matter, without taking away 
your Servants, that made Corn for you 
and your Family to eat; and yet if 
you will give me a blanket to keep me 
warm, and some Powder and Shot to 
kill Deer withal, I will do my best to 
make you well still. The Man was low 
in Courage and Pocket too, and made 
the Indian this reply. Jack, my Dis- 
temper is past cure, and if our English 
Doctors cannot cure it, I am sure the 
Indians cannot. But his wife accosted 
her Husband in very mild terms, and 
told him he did not know but that God 
might be pleased to give a blessing to 
that Indian's undertaking, more than 
he had done to the English; and 
farther added if you die, I cannot be 
much more miserable, by giving this 
small matter to the Indian, so I pray 
you my Dear, take my advise and try 
him, to which by her persuasions he 
consented. After the bargain was 
concluded the Indian went into the 
Woods, and brought in Herbs and 
Roots, of which he made a Decoction, 
and gave it to the Man to drink, and 
bade him go to bed, saying it should 
not be long before he came again, 
which the patient performed as he was 
ordered; and the potion he had ad- 
ministered made him Sweat after the 
most violent manner that could be, 
whereby he smelt very offensive both 
to himself and they that were about 
him; but in the Evening, towards 
Night, Jack came with a great Rattle- 
Snake in his hand, alive, which 
frightened the People almost out of 



OF NORTH CAROUNA. 



131 



their senses; and he told his Patient 
that he must talte that to bed to him; 
at which the Man was in a great Con- 
sternation, and told the Indian he was 
resolved to let no Snake come into his 
Bed; for he might as well die of the 
Distemper that he had as to be killed 
by a bite of that Serpent. To which 
the Indian replied that he could not 
bite him now, nor do him any harm; 
for he had taken out his Poison-Teeth, 
and shewed him that they were gone. 
At last, with much Persuasion, he ad- 
mitted the Snake's Company, which 
the Indian put about his Middle, and 
ordered no body to take him away up- 
on any account, which was strictly ob- 
served, although the Snake Girded him 
as hard (for a great while) as if he had 
been drawn in by a Belt, which one 
pulled at with all his might. At last 
the Snakes Twitches grew weaker and 
weaker, till by degrees he felt him not; 
and opening the Bed he was found 
dead, and the Man thought himself 
better. The Indian came in the morn- 
ing and seeing the Snake dead, told the 
Man that his Distemper was dead, 
along with that Snake, which proved 
so as he said, for the Man speedily re- 
covered his Health, and became per- 
fectly well. 

They cure the Spleen (which they are 
much addicted to), by burning with a 
reed. They lay the Patient on his 
Back, so put a hollow cane into the 
fire, where they burn the End thereof 
till it is very hot, and on Fire at the 
end. Then they lav a mVce of thin 
leather on the Patient's Belly, between 
the Pit of the Stomach and the Navel. 
so press the hot reed on the Leather, 
which burns the Patient so that you 
may ever after see the impression of 
the Reed where it was laid on, which 
mark never goes off so long as he lives. 
This is used for the Bellyache some- 



times. They can color their hair black, 
tho' sometimes it is reddish, which 
they do with a seed of a Flower that 
grows commonly on their Plantations. 
I believe this would chans-e tne rea- 
dest Hair into perfect Black. They 
make use of no Minerals in their 
Physick, and not much of Animals; but 
chiefly rely on Vegetables. They havt 
several Remedies for the Tooth- ache, 
which often drives away the Pain; but 
if they fail, they have recourse to 
punching out the Tooth, with a small 
cane set against the same, on a bit of 
Leather. Then they strike the Reea 
and so drive out the Tooth; and how- 
ever it may seem to the Europeans. I 
prefer it before the common way of 
drawing Teeth by those Instruments, 
that endanger the Jaw and a Flux of 
Blood often follows, which this Method 
of Punching never is attended withal: 
neither is it half the pain. The Spon- 
taneous Plants of America the Savage 
is well acquainted withal: and a Flux 
of Blood never follows any of their 
operations. They are wholly strang- 
ers to Amputation, and for what nat- 
ural issues of blood happen immedi- 
ately, they are not to seek for a cer- 
tain speedy cure. Tears, Rozins, and 
Gums I have not discovered that they 
make much use of; and as for the 
Purging and Emeticks, so much in 
fashion with us, they never apply 
themselves to, unless in drinking va.5t 
quantities of their Taupon Tea, and 
vomiting it up again, as clear as they 
drink it. This is a custom amongst all 
those that can produce that Plant, in 
which manner they take it every morn- 
ing or oftener; by which Method they 
keep their Stomachs clean without 
pricking th" Coats, and straining Na- 
ture, as every Purge is an Enemy to. 
Besides, the exeat Diuretick Quality of 



132 



i^awson's history 



their Tea carries off a great deal, that 
perhaps might prejudice their Health 
by Agues, and Fevers, which all Wa- 
tery Countries are addicted to; for 
which reason, I believe it is, that tht 
Indians are not so much addicted to 
that Distemper, as we are, they pre- 
venting its seizing uDon them by this 
Plant alone. Moreover I have re- 
marked that it is only those Places 
bordering on the Ocean and Great Riv- 
ers, that this distemper is frequent in, 
and only on and near the same places 
this evergreen is to be found; and none 
up towards the Mountains where this 
Ague seldom or never appears. Nature 
having provided suitable Remedies in 
all Countries, proper for the Maladies 
that are common thereto. The Sav- 
ages of Carolina have this Tea in Ven- 
eration, above all the Plants they are 
acquainted withal, and tell you the dis- 
covery thereof was by an infirm Indian, 
that laboured under the Burden of 
many rugged Distempers, and could 
not be cured by all their Doctors: so 
one day he fell asleep and dreamt that 
if he took a Decoction of the Tree thai 
grew at his Head he would certainly 
be cured; upon which he awoke and 
saw the Taupon or Cassena Tree. Which 
was not there when he fell asleep. He 
followed the directions of his dream 
and became well in a short time. Now, 
I suppose no Man has so little sense 
as to believe this Fable, yet it lets us 
see what they intend thereby, and that 
it has doubtless, worked Feats enough 
to gain it such an esteem amongst 
these Savages, who are too well versed 
In Vegetables, to be brought to a con- 
tinual use of any one of them, upon 
a mere Conceit or Fancy, without some 
apparent Benefit they found thereby; 
especially when we are sensible they 
arink the Juices of Plants, to free 



Nature of her Burdens, and not out 
of Foppery and Fashion, as other Na- 
tions are oftentimes found to do. 
Amongst all the discoveries of Amer- 
ica by the Missionaries of the French 
and Spaniards, I wonder none of them 
was so kind to the World as to have 
kept a Catalogue of the Distempers 
they found the Savages capable of Cur- 
ing, and their Method of Cure; which 
might have been of some advantage 
to our Materia Medica at home, when 
delivered by Men of Learning, and 
other Qualifications, as most of them 
are. Authors generally tell us that 
the Savages are well enoue-h acquaint- 
ed with those Plants which their Cli- 
mates afford, and that some of them 
effect srreat Cures, but by what means 
and bv what Form we are left in the 
dark. 

The Bark of the Root of the Sassa- 
fras Tree. I have observed is much 
used by them. They generally tor- 
refy it in the Embers, so strip off the 
Bark from the Root, beating it to a 
consistence fit to spread, so lay it on 
the grieved part; which both cleanse« 
a foul Ulcer, and after Sacrification, 
being applied to a Contusion or Swell- 
ing, draws forth the Pain, and re- 
duces the part to its Pristine state of 
Health, as I have often seen effected. 
Fats and Unsruent-t?. npver appear in 
their Chirurgery, when the Skin is 
once broken. The Fats of Animals are 
used by them to render their Limbs 
pliable, and when wearied to relieve 
the Joints, and this not often, because 
they approve of the Sweating House 
(in such cases) above all things. The 
Salts they mix with their Bread and 
Soups, to give them a Relish, are Alka- 
lis, (viz) Ashes, and calcined Bones 
of Deer and other Animals. Salads, 
they never eat any; as for Mustard 
and Pepper, they reckon us little bet- 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



133 



ter than Madmen to make use of it 
amongst our victuals. They are never 
troubled with the Scurvy, Dropsy, nor 
Stone. The Phthisick. Asthma, and 
Diabetes, they are wholly Strangers to; 
neither do I remember I ever saw one 
Paralytick among them. The Gout, I 
cannot be certain whether they know 
what it is, or not. Indeed, I never saw 
any Nodes or Swellines. which attend 
the Gout in Europe; yet they have a 
sort of Rheumatim or Burning of the 
Limbs, which tortures them grievously, 
at which time, their Legs are so hot 
that they employ the young people con- 
tinually to pour Water down them. I 
never saw but one or two thus af- 
flicted. The Struma is not uncommon 
amonest these Savages, and another 
Distemper, which is in some respects 
like the Pox, but is attended with no 
Gonorrhea. This not seldom bereaves 
them of their Nose. I have seen three 
or four of them renrlprori most miser- 
able spectacles by this Distemper. Yet, 
when they have been so negligent, as 
to let it run on so far without curbing 
it; at last they may shift to patch 
themselves up, and live for many 
Years: and such Men commonly turn 
Doctors. I have known two or three 
of these no-nose Doctors in great es- 
teem among the Savages. The Juice 
of the Tulio Tree is nspd as a proper 
remedy for this Distemper. What 
knowledge they have in Anatomy, I 
cannot tf^Il, neither did I ever see them 
employ themselves therein, unless as 
I told you before, when they make the 
Skeletons of their Kings and Great 
Men. 

The Indians are very careless and 
negligent of their Health, as by Drunk- 
enness and by Wading in the Water, 
irregular Diet and Lodging, and a 
thousand other disorders, (that would 
kill an European), which they daily 



use. They boil and roast their Meat 
extraordinary much and eat abundance 
of Broth, except the Savages, whom 
we call the naked Indians, who never 
eat any Soupe. They travel from the 
banks of the Mississippi to war against 
the Sinnagars or Iroquois, and are (if 
equal Numbers) commonly too hard 
for them. They would lie and sleep in 
the Woods without fire, being inured 
thereto. They are the hardiest of all 
Indians, and run so fast, that they are 
never taken, neither do any Indians 
outrun them, if they are pursued. 
Their Savage Enemies say their Nim- 
bleness and Wind proceeds from their 
never eating any Broth. The Small- 
Pox has been fatal to them; they do 
not often escape, when they are seized 
with that Distemper, which is a con- 
trary one to what they ever kne-v. 
Most certain it had never visited Amer- 
ica before the Discovery thereof by 
the Christians. Their running into the 
Water in the Extremity of this Disease, 
strikes it in, and kills all that use it. 
Now they are become a little wiser, but 
formerly it destroy'd whole Towns, 
without leaving one Indian alive in the 
whole village. The Plague was never 
known amonst them, that I could learn 
by what enquiry I have made. These 
Savages use Scarriflcation almost in all 
Distempers. Their chief Instrument for 
that operation is the Teeth of Rattle- 
snakes, which they poison withal. They 
take them out of the Snake's Heads 
and suck out the Poison with their 
Mouths, (and so keep them for use) and 
spit out the Venom, which is green, and 
are never damaged thereby. The Small- 
Pox and Rum have made such a de- 
struction among them, that on good 
grounds, I do not believe there is the 
sixth Savage living within two hun- 
dred Miles of our Settlement as there 
were fifty years ago. These poor Crea- 
tures have so many Enemies to destroy 



134 



lawson's history 



them, that it is a wonder one of them 
is left alive amongst us. The Small- 
Pox I have acquainted you withal 
above, and so I have of Rum, and so I 
shall only add, that they have got a 
way to carry it back to the Westward 
Indians, who never knew what it was 
till within a very few years. Now they 
have it brought them by the Tuskeru- 
ros and other Neighbour Indians, but 
the Tuskeruros chiefly, who carry it in 
Rundlets several hundred Miles, 
amongst other Indians. Sometimes 
they cannot forebear breaking their 
Cargo, but sit down in the Woods and 
drink it all up, and then hollow and 
shout like so many Bedlamites. I ac- 
cidentally once met with one of these 
drunken Crews, and was ama'zed to see 
a Parcel of Drunkards so far from any 
Englishman's house, but the Indians 1 
had in company informed me that they 
were Merchants, and bad drunk all 
their stock, as is very common for 
them to do. But when they happen 
to carry it safe (which is seldom with- 
out drinking some part of it, and fill- 
ing it up with water) and come to an 
Indian Town, those that buy rum of 
them have so many MouthfuUs for a 
Buck-Skin, they never using any other 
Measure; and for this purpose the 
Buyer always makes choice of his 
Man, which is one that has the great- 
est Mouth, whom he brings to the 
Market with a Bowl to put it in. The 
Seller looks narrowly to the Man's 
Mouth that measures it, and if he hap- 
pens to swallow any down, either 
through wilfulness or otherwise, the 
Merchant or some of the other Party 
does not scruple to throw the Fellow 
down, exclaiming against him for false 



Measure. Thereupon, the Buyer finds 
another Mouthpiece to measure the 
rum by; so that this trading is very 
agreeable to the Spectators, to see such 
a deal of quarreling and controversy, 
as often happens about it, and is di- 
verting. 

Another Destroyer of them is the Art 
they have, and often practise, of pois- 
oning one another, wTiich is done by a 
large white spungy Root, that grows 
in the Fresh-Marshes, which is one of 
their Poisons; not but that they have 
many other Drugs, which they poison 
one another withal. 

Lastly the continual Wars these Sav- 
ages maintain, one Nation against an- 
other, which sometimes hold for some 
ages, killing and making Captives un- 
til they become so weak thereby, that 
they are forced to make Peace for want 
of Recruits to supply their Wars; and 
the Differences of Languages that is 
found amongst these Heathens, seems 
altogether strange. For it often ap- 
pears that every dozen Miles you meet 
with an Indian Town, that is quite dif- 
ferent from the others you last parted 
withal; and what a little supplies this 
Defect is, that the most powerful Na- 
tion of these Savages scorns to treat 
or Trade with any others (of fewer 
numbers and less power) in any other 
Tongue but their own, which serves for 
the Lingua of the Country, with which 
we travel and deal; as for example we 
see that theTuskeruro'sare most num- 
erous in North Carolina, therefore 
their Tongue is understood by some in 
every Town of all the Indians near us. 
And here I shall insert a small diction- 
ary of every Tongue, though not alpha- 
betically digested. 



CHAPTER V. 



ENGLISH. 



One 

Two 

Three 

Four 

Five 

Six 

Seven 

Eight , 

Nine 

Ten 

Eleven 

Twelve 

Twenty 

Thirty 

Hundred 

Thousand 

Rum 

Blankets 

White 

Red 

Black or Blue the 

same 

Gunpowder 

Shot 

Axe 

Knife 

Tobacco 

Shirt 

Hat 

Fire 

Water 

Goat 

Awl or Needle 

A Hoe 

Salt 

Paint 

Ronoak 

Peak 

Gun 

Gun-Locks 

Flints 

A Flap 

Belt ; 

Scissors and Tobac- 
co Tongues 

A Kettle 

A Pot 

Acorns 

A Pine Tree 

Englishman 

Indians 



TUSKERURO. 



Unche 

Necte 

Ohf-fah 

Untoc 

Ouch-whe 

Houeyoc 

chauc-noc 

nec-kara 

wearah 

wartsaus 

unche seauwhau... 
nectec seaukhau . 
wartsau seaukhau 
ossa te wartsau... 

youch fe 

qi you se 

oonaquod 

Oorewa 

Ware-occa 

Cotcoo-rea 



Caw-hunshe 

Ouku 

Cauna 

Au-nika 

Oosocks-nauh 

Charho 

Ough-tre's 

Oo-roso-so 

Trossa 

Utchar 

Awoo 

Ouswax or Ka- 

whitchra 

Oose-waure 

Wauche-wocnoc .. 

Cheek-ha 

Quaunt 

Nauh-hou-eot 

Chu-teche 

Auk-noc 

Ooteste 

Ou-negh-ra 

Oonoa-teste 



Cheh-ra 

Oowaiana .. 

Ocnock , 

Kooawa . . . . 

Heigta , 

Nickreruroh 
Unqua 



PAMPITCOUGH. 



weembot 

neshinnauh ... 
nish-wonner .. 
Yau-Ooner .... 

umperren 

Who-yeoc 

Thap-po-osh.. . 
Nauhaushohoo. 
Nach-ic-conk . 
Cosh 



Weesaccon 

Mattosh 

Wopposhaumosh 
Mish-cosk 



Mow-cottov/osh 

Pungue 

Ar-rounser 

Tomma-hick ... 

Rig-cosa 

Hooh-pau 



Mottau-quahanu 

Tinda 

Umpe 



Taus-won 

Moc-cose 

Rosh-shocquon 



Chuwon 

Mis-kis-su 

Ronoak 

Gau-hooptop . . 
Gun-tock-Seike 

Hinds 

Rappatoc 



Maachone 



Ooonosf a . . . 
Tosh-Sl-onte 
Nuppin 



Tonne 
Num-perre 

Nam-mee 

Pannum-punne 

Webtau 

Is-sto 

Nommis-fau 

Nupsau 

Weihere 

Soone noponne 

Tonne hauk pe 

Soone nomme 

Winnop 



Yup-fe 
Roo-inne 
Waurraupa 
Yauta 

Yah-te-stea 

Rooeyam 

Week 

Tau-unt-a winnik 

Wee 

uucoone 

Tacca-pitteneer 

Wee-kessoo 

Intome-posswa 

Yau 

Ejau 

Rummissau 

Woonshe-shee 

Rooe-pau 

Whooyeonne 

Rummaer 

Erroco 

Wittape 

Nookossa 

Matt-teer 

Roseyau 

W^ee-kau 

Toc-koor 

Toosewan 



Roosomme 
Hooheh 
Wintsohore 
Yauh-he 



136 



lawson's history 



ENGLISH. 



A Horse 

Swine 

Moss , 

Raw skin undress'd 

Buck-Skin 

Fawn-Skin 

Bear-Skin 

Fox-Skin 

Raccoon-Skin 

Squirrel-Skin 

Wildcat-Skin 

Panther-Skin 

Wolf , 

Mink 

Otter 

A Mat 

Basket 

Feathers 

Dresst Skin 

A Turkey 

A Duck 

A King 

Fat 

Soft 

Hard or Heavy 

A Rope 

A Possum 

A Day 

A Pester 

A Mortar , 

Stockings 

A Creek 

A River 

A Man 

Old Man 

Young Man 

Woman 

Old Woman 

Wife 

A Child ... 

A Boy 

Infant 

E'ars 

Fishgig 

A Comb 

A Cake Baked 

A Head 

Hair 

Brother 

I 

Thou 

There 

Hom^ne 

Bread , 

Broath 

Corn 



TUSKERURO. 



A hots . , 

Watsquerre 

Auoona hau 

Ootahawa 

Ocques 

Ottea 

Occhehara 

Che-chou 

Roo-Sotto 

Sost 

Cauhauawa-ana 

Caunerex 

Squarrena 

Chau-Kauene . . . 

Chaunoc 

Ooyethne 

Ooyaura 

Ooshooqua 

Cotcoo 

Coona 

Sooeau 

Teethha 

Ootsaure 

Utsauwanne .... 
Waucots nio . . . 

Utsera 

Che-ra 

Ootauh-ne 

Tic-caugh-ne ... 
Ootic caugh-ne . 

Wayhaushe 

Wackena 

Abunt wackena 

Entequos 

Occoonahawa . . . 

Quottis 

Con-noowa 

Cusquerre 

Kateocca 

Woccanookne . . 

Wariaugh 

Usterosta 

Ooethnat 

Ootosne 

Oonaquitchra ... 

Ooneck 

Ootaure 

Oowaara 

Caunotka 

Ek 

Eets 

Ka 

Cotquerre 

Cotocnare 

Ook-heo 

Oonaha 

Oonave 



wocco. 



Yenwetoa 

Nommewarraupau 

Itto 

Teep 

Rookau 

Wisto 

Ourka 

Hannatockore 

Auher 

Tehau 



Wattau 

Tire Kiro 

Soccon 

Wetkes 

Soppepepor 

Rookeappa 

Soppe 

Rauhau 

Yauta 

Welka 

Reamore 

Yendare 

Roosomme 

Itte teraugh 

Trauhe 



Miyau 
Y OS SCO . 



Yossoo 



Yicau 
Yeccauan 



Weetipsa 
Sacketoome posswa 



Poppe 

Tumme 

Yaukauhe 



Roocauwa 
Ikettau 



Cose 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



^Z7 



Pease 

A Bag 

Fish 

A Louse 

A Flea 

Potatoes 

A Stick 

Wood 

House 

A Cow 

A Snake 

A Rat 

A Goose 

A Swan 

Allegator 

A Crab 

A Canoe 

A Box 

A Bowl 

A Spoon 

A Path 

Sun or Moon 

Wind 

A Star 

Rain 

A Rundlet 

An Eel 

A Cable 

Small Ropes 

A Button 

Breeches 

Stockings 

Day 

Mad 

Angry 

Afraid 

Smoke 

A Thief or Rogue 

A Dog 

A Reed 

Lightwood 

Tomorrow 

Now 

To-day 

A Little while ago 

Yesterday , 

How many 

How far 

Will you go 

Will you go along with me 

Go you 

Give it me 

That's all 

A Cubit Length 

Dead 



Oofare 

Oosha 

Saugh-he 

Uittaqua 

Cunshe 

Cheecq 

Nauocq 

Unto ne 

Chinqua 

Ouyunkgue 

Oinouse 

Ous-sarunt 

Us-quauh-ne 

Rusquine 

Au-hoohaha 

Oorhast 

Utsererauh 

Rouare cou 

Ooshunnawa 

Ooanoo 

Ortse 

Oughquere 

Wauh-hauhne . . . 

Heita 

Hoonoch 

Uttewiraratse .... 

Untuch 

Oosottoo 

Oohunawa 

Cuhna-na 

Utquichra 

Utsera utquichra 

Tic-hah 

Wahunshe 

Oowissera 

Wouwoc-hook . . . , 

Cosserunte 

Cotcheroore 

Werricauna 

Oo-teighne 

Katlchhei 

Cheeth 

Cauna 

Kakoo 

Jureha 

Kahunk 

Kawa 

Kakwoowa 

Oousooto 

Ut-tewots 

Untateawa 

Unta hah 

Its warko 

Cotshau 

Ut chat 

Kihoosocca 

Whaharia 



Coosauk 
Ekoorryomon 
Yacunne 
Eppesyau 



Wauk 



Yonne 

Ouke 

Nappinjure 

Yau-hauk 

Wittau 

Auhaun 

Atter 

Monwittetau 

Wunneau 

Watt 

Yopoonitsa 

Cotsoo 

Cotsau 

Yauh 

Wittapare 

Yuncor 

Wattapi-Untakeer 

Yawowa 

Yantoha 



Ynpyupseunne 



Rummissauwouna 

Rooeyaukitte 

Roosoo possoo 

Waukhaway 

Rockcumme 

Roocheha 

Reheshiwau 

Too-she 



Tauh-he 
Weekwonne 
Sek 
Kittape 



Yauka 

Yottoha 

Tontarinte 



Quauke 

Yuppa me 

Mothei 

Cuttaune 

Ishewounaup 

Caure 



138 



i^awson's history 



ENGLISH. 



TUSKERtJRO. 



"WOCCO. 



A Gourd or Bottle 

A Laxy Fellow 

Englishman is thirsty 

I will sell you goods very 

cheap 

All the Indians are 

drunk 

Have you got anything to 

eat 

I am sick 

A Fish hook 

Don't loose it 

A Tobacco Pipe 

I remember it 

Let it alone 

Peaches 

"Walnuts , 

Hicerry nuts 

A Jews Harp 

I forgot it 

Northwest wind 

Snow 



Utchaawa 

Wattatoo watse 

Oukwockaninniwock 



Wattape 
Tontaunete 



Wausthanocha 

Connaugh jost twane 



Nau hau hoore ene 
Nonnupper 



Utta-ana-wox 

Connauwox 

Oos-skinna 

Oon est nonne it quost 

Oosquaana 

Oonutsuka 

Thot-saur-auweek 

Roo-ooe 

Rootau-ooe 

Rootau 

Ooratsa 

Merrauka 

Hothooka 

Acaunque 



Noccoo Eraute 
Waurepa 



Intone 

Auccommanto 
Sauhau 
Yonne 



Nimmia 
Wottiyau 



Wawawe 



To repeat more of this Indian Jar- 
gon, would be to trouble the reader; 
and as an account of how imperfect 
they are in their Moods and Tenses, 
has been given by several already, I 
shall only add that their Languages 
or Tongues are so deficient, that you 
cannot suppose the Indians ever could 
express themselves in such a Flight 
of style, as Authors would have you 
believe. They are so far from it, that 
they are just able to make one an- 
other understand readily what they 
talk about. As for the two Consonants 
D and F, I never knew them in any 
Indian Speech, I have met withal; 
yet I must tell you that they have 
such a way of abbreviating their 
speech when in their great Councils 
and Debates, that the young Men do 
not understand what they treat about 
when they hear them argue. It is 
wonderful, what has occasion'd so 
many different Speeches as the Sav- 
ages have. The three Nations I now 
mention do not live over ten Leagues 
distant, and two of them, viz, the Tus- 



keruro's and the Woccon, are not two 
Leagues asunder, yet in their Speech 
differs in every word thereof, except 
one, which is Tsaure Cockles, wh'ch 
is in both Tongues the same, and 
nothing else. Now this difference of 
Speech causes Jealousies and Fears 
amongst them, which bring Wars, 
wherein they destroy one another; oth- 
erwise the Christians had not (in all 
possibility) settled America so easily 
as they have done, had these Tribes 
of Savages united themselves into one 
People or general Interest, or were 
they so but every Hundred Miles. In 
short, they are an odd sort of People, 
under the Circumstances they are at 
present, and have some such un- 
couth Ways in their Management and 
Course of living that it seems a Mira- 
cle to us, how they bring about their 
Designs, as they do when their Ways 
are commonly quite contrary to ours. 
I believe they are (as to this life) a 
very Happy People; and were it not 
for the Feuds amongst themselves, 
they would enjoy the happiest State, 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



^39 



(in this World) of all Mankind. They 
met with Enemies when we came 
amongst them; for they are no nearer 
Christianity now, than they were at 
the first Discovery, to all appearances. 
They have learnt several vices of the 
Europeans, but not one Vertue as I 
know of. Drunkenness was a Stran- 
ger when we found them out, and 
Swearing their speech cannot express; 
yet those that speak English, learn to 
Gwear the first thing they talk of. Its 
true they have some Vertues and some 
Vices; but how the Christians can 
bring these People into the Bosom of 
the Church, is a Proposal that ought 
to be formed and followed by the 
wisest Heads and best Christians. Af- 
ter I have given one remark or two 
further, of some of their Strange 
Practices and Notions, I will give my 
Opinion, how I think in all probability 
it may be possibly be effected, and so 
shall conclude this Treatise of Caro- 
lina. 

They are a very craving People, and 
if a Man give them anything of a 
Present, they think it obliges him to 
give them another; and so until he 
has given them all he has; for they 
have no Bounds of Satisfaction in 
their way, and if they give you any- 
thing it is to receive twice the value 
of it. They have no Consideration 
that you will want what you give 
them; for their way of Living is so 
contrary to ours, that neither we nor 
any one can fathom one another's de- 
signs and Methods. They call Rum and 
Physick by one name, which implies 
that Rum makes People sick, as when 
they have taken any Poisonous Plant, 
yet they cannot forbear Rum. They 
make offerings of their First-Pruits, 
and the more serious sort of them 
throw into the Ashes, the first bit or 
spoonful of every Meal they sit down 
to, which, they say is the same to 
them, as the pulling off our Hats, and 



talking when we go to Victuals is to 
us. They name the Months very 
agreeably, as one is the Herring- 
Month, another the Strawberry-Month, 
another the Mulberry-Month. Others 
name them by the Trees that blossom; 
especially the Dog-Wood Tree; or they 
say, we will return when Turkies gob- 
ble, that is in March and April. The 
age of the Moon they understand, but 
know no different Name for the Sun 
and Moon. They can guess well at 
the time of the Day, by the Sun's 
Height. Their Age they number by 
Winters, and say such a Man or Wo- 
man is so many Winters old. They 
have no Sabbath, or Day of Rest. 
Their Slaves are never over-burdened 
with work, and so not driven by Se- 
verity to seek for that Relief. Those 
that are acquainted with the English 
and speak the Tongue, know when 
Sunday comes; besides the Indians 
have a distinct Name for Christmas, 
which they call Winnick Keshuse, or 
the Englishman's Gods Moon. There 
is one most abominable custom 
amongst them, which they call Hus- 
quenawing, their Young Men; which 
I have not made any mention of as 
yet, so will give you an account of 
it here. You must know, that most 
commonly, once a Year, or at farthest 
once in two Years, these People take 
up so many of their Young Men, as 
they think are able to undergo it, and 
Husquenaugh them, which is to make 
them obedient and respective to their 
superiors, and (as they say) is the 
same to them, as it is to send our 
Children to School, to be taught good 
Breeding and Letters. This House of 
Correction is a large strong Cabin, 
made on purpose for the Rt.ception 
of the Young Men and Boys, that have 
not passed their graduation already; 
and it is always at Christmas that 
they Husquenaugh their Youth, which 
is by bringing them into this House 



140 



lawson's history 



and keeping them dark all the time, 
where they more than half starve 
them. Besides they give them Pelli- 
tory Bark and several intoxicating 
Plants, that make them go raving Mad 
as ever were an" People in this 
World; and you may hear them make 
the most dismal and Hellish cries, and 
Howlings, that ever Human Creatures 
ever expressed; all which continues 
about five or six weeks, and the littie 
Meat they eat is the nastiest loath- 
some stuff, and mix'd with all man- 
ner of filth it's possible to get. After 
the time expires they are brought out 
of the Cabin, which never is in Town, 
but always a distance off, and guard- 
ed by a Jaylor or two, who watch 
them by turns; now when they first 
come out they are as poor as any 
Creatures ever were; for you must 
know several die under this diaboli- 
cal Purgation. Moreover, they either 
really are, or pretend to be, dumb and 
do not speak for several Days; I think 
twenty or thirty; and look so ghastly, 
and so changed that it's next to an 
impossibility to know them again, al- 
though you were ever so well acquaint- 
ed with them before. I would fain 
have gone into the Mad-House and 
seen them in their time of Purgatory, 
but the King would not suffer it, be- 
cause he told me they would do me, 
or any other white man, an injury, 
that ventured in amongst them, so I 
desisted. They play this Prank with 
Girls as well as Boys, and I believe 
it a miserable Life they endure, be- 
cause I have known several of them 
to run away at that time and thus 
avoid it. Now, the Savages say, if 
it was not for this they could never 
keep their Youth in Subjection, bo- 
sides that it hardens them hereafter 
to the Fatigues of War, Hunting, and 
all Manner of Hardship, which their 
Way of living exposes them to. De- 
sides, they add, that it carries off those 



infirm weak Bodies, that would have 
been only a disgrace and burden to 
their Nation, and saves the Victuals 
and Cloathing for better People, that 
would have been expended on such 
useless Creatures. These Savages are 
described in their proper Colours but 
by a very few; for those that gener- 
ally write Histories of this new World 
are such as Interest, Preferment, and 
Merchandize, drew thither, and know 
no more of the People than I do of 
the Laplanders, which is only by Hear- 
Say. And if we will make just Re- 
marks, how near such Relations gen- 
erally approach Truth and Nicety, we 
shall find very few of them worthy 
of Entertainment; and as for the other 
part of the Volume, it is generally 
stuffed with Invectives against the 
Government they lived under, on which 
Stage is commonly acted greater Bar- 
barities, in Murdering worthy Men's 
Reputations, than all the Savages in 
the new World are capable of equal- 
ing, or so much as imitating. 

And since I hinted at a regulation 
of the Savages, and to propose a Way 
to convert them to Christianity, I will 
first particularize the several Nations 
of Indians that are our Neignbours, 
and then proceed to what I promised. 

Tuskeruro Indians, are fifteen Towns 
viz. Haruta, Waqui, Contah-nah, An- 
na Ooka, Conauh-Kare, Harooka, Una 
Nauhan, Kentanuska, Chunaneets, 
Kenta, Eno, Naur-hegh-ne, Oonos- 
soora, Tosneoc, Nonawharitse, Nursoo- 
rooka; Fighting Men 1,200. Waccon 
Towns 2, Yupwarereman, Tooptatmeer, 
Fighting Men 120. Machapunga, Town 
1, Maramiskeet, Fighting Men 30. Bear 
River, Town 1, Raudauqua-quank, 
Fighting Men 50. Maherring Indians, 
Town 1, Maherring River, Fighting 
Men 50. Chuwon Indians, Town 1, 
Rennets Creek, Fighting Men 15. Pas- 
patank Indians, Town 1, Paspatank 
River, Fighting Men 10. Poeskeit, 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



141 



Town 1, North River, Fighting Men 
30. Nottaway Indians, Town 1, Wino- 
ack Creek, Fighting Men 30. Hatteras 
Town, 1, Sand-Banks, Fighting Men 
16. Connamox Indians, Towns 2, Cor- 
anine, Raruta, Fighting Men 25. Neus 
Indians, Towns 2, Chattooka, Rouc- 
coonk, Fighting Men 15. Jaupin In- 
dians, 6 People. Pampticough Indians, 
Town 1, Island, Fighting Men 15. These 
five Nations of the Totero's, Sapona's, 
Keiauwee's, Aconeches, and Schocco- 
ries, are lately come amongst us, and 
may contain, in all, about 750 Men, 
Women and Children. Total 4,780. Now 
there appear to be one thousand, six 
hundred and twelve Fighting Men, of 
our Neighbouring Indians; and prob- 
ably there are three-Fifths of Women 
and Children, not including Old Men, 
which amounts to four thousand ani 
thirty Savages, besides the live Na- 
tions lately come. Now, as I before 
hinted, we will see what grounds there 
are to make these People serviceable 
to us, and better themselves thereby. 

On a fair Scheme, we must first al- 
low these Savages, what really be- 
longs to them, that is what good Quali- 
ties and Natural Endowments they 
possess, whereby they being in their 
proper Colours, the Event may be bet- 
ter guessed at, and fathom'd. 

First they are as apt to learn any 
Handicraft as any People that the 
World affords; I will except none, as 
is seen by their Canoes and Stauking 
Heads, which they make themselves; 
but to my purpose the Indian Slave.? 
in South Carolina, and elsewhere, 
make any argument good. 

Second we have no disciplin'd Men 
in Europe, but what have at one time 
or another, been branded with Mutin- 
ing and Murmuring against their 
Chiefs. These Savages are never found 
Guilty of that Crime in a Soldier; I 
challenge all Mankind to tell me one 
instance of it; besides they never 



prove Traitors to their Native Coun- 
try, but rather chuse Death than par- 
take and side with the Enemy. 

They naturally possess the Right- 
eous Man's Gift; they are Patient un- 
der all Afflictions, and have a great 
many other Natural Vertues, which 
I have slightly touched on throughout 
the Account of these Savages. 

They are really better to us than 
we are to them; they always give 
us Victuals at their Quarters and take 
care that we are armed against Hun- 
ger and Thirst; we ^o not so by them 
(generally speaking) but let them walk 
by our Doors Hungry and do not often 
relieve them. We look upon them with 
Scorn and Disdain, and think them lit- 
tle better than Beasts in Human 
Shape, tho' if well examined, we shall 
find that for all our Religion and Edu- 
cation, we possess more moral De- 
formities, and Evils that these Sav- 
ages do, or are acquainted withal. 

We reckon them slaves in compari- 
son to us, and Intruders, as oft as 
they enter our Houses, or Hunt near 
our Dwellings. But if we will admit 
Reason to be our Guide, she will in- 
form us that these Indians are the 
freest People in the World, and so 
far from being Intruders among us 
that iwe Shave abandoned our own 
Native soil, to drive them out, and 
possess theirs; neither have we any 
true balance in judging of these Poor 
Heathens, because we neither give al- 
lowance for their Natural Disposi- 
tion, nor the Sylvian Education, and 
strange Customs (uncouth to us) they 
lie under and have ever been trained 
up to; these are false Measures for 
Christians to take, and indeed no man 
can be reckon'd a Moralist only, who 
will not make choice and use of better 
Rules to walk and act by. We trade 
with them, 'tis true. But to what 
End? Not to show them the steps of 
Vertue, and the Golden Rule, to do 



142 



lawson's history 



as we would be done by. No, we have 
furnished them with the vice of 
Drunkenness, which is the open Road 
to all others, and daily cheat them 
in everything we sell and esteem it 
a Gift of Christianity not to sell them 
so cheap as we do to the Christians, as 
we call ourselves. Pray let me know 
where there is to be found one Sacred 
Command or Precept of our Master, 
that counsels us to such behaviour? 
Besides, I believe it will not appear 
but that all the Wars which we have 
had with the Savages, were occasioned 
by the unjust dealings of the Chris- 
tians towards them. I can name more 
than a few which my own Enquiry 
has given me a right Understanding 
of, and I am afraid the remainder (if 
they come to the test) will prove 
themselves Birds of the same Feather. 
As we are in Christian Duty bound, 
so we must act and behave ourselves 
to these Savages, if we either intend to 
be serviceable in converting them to 
the Knowledge of the Gospel, or dis- 
charge the Duty which every Man, 
within the Pale of the Christian Church, 
is bound to do. Upon this score, we 
ought to show a Tenderness for these 
Heathens under the weight of Infidel- 
ity; let us cherish their Good Deeds, 
and, with Mildness and Clemency, make 
them sensible and forewarn them of 
their ill ones; let our Dealings be just 
with them in every Respect, and show 
no ill Example whereby they niay think 
we advise them to practice that which 
we will not be conformable to our- 
selves; Let them have cheap penni- 
worths, (without Guile in our Trading 
with them), and learn them the Mys- 
teries of our Handicrafts, as well as 
our Religion, otherwise we deal unjust- 
ly by them. But it is highly necessary 
to be brought in Practice, which is to 
give Encouragement to the Ordinary 
People, and those of a lower Rank, that 



they might marry with these Indians, 
and come into Plantations, and Houses, 
where so many Acres of Land and sonw 
Gratuity of Money (out of a public 
stock) are given to the new-married 
couple, and that the Indians might have 
encouragement to send their Children 
Apprentices to proper Masters that 
would be kind to them, and make them 
Masters of a Trade, whereby they might 
be drawn to live amongst us, and be- 
come members of the same Ecclesiasti- 
cal and Civil Government we are un- 
der; then we should have great ad- 
vantages to make daily Conversions 
amongst them, when they saw that we 
were kind and just to them in all our 
Dealings. Moreover, by the Indians 
Marrying with the Christians, and com- 
ing into Plantations with tneir Eng- 
lish Husbands, or Wives, they would 
become Christians, and their Idolatry 
would be quite forgotten, and in all 
probability, a better Worship come in 
its Stead; for were the Jews engrafted 
thus, and alienated from the Worship 
and Conversation of Jews their aboni- 
inations would "Vanish and be no more. 
Thus we should be let into a better 
understanding of the Indian Tongue by 
our new Converts; and the whole body 
of these people would arrive to the 
Knowledge of our Religion and Customs 
and become as one People with us. By 
this Method also, we should have a 
true knowledge of all the Indian's skill 
in Medicine and Surgery; they would 
inform us of the Situation of our Riv- 
ers, Lakes and Tracts of Lands in the 
Lords' Dominions, where by therr As- 
sistance, greater Discoveries may be 
made than has been hitherto found out, 
and by their Accompanying us in our 
Expeditions, we might Civilize a great 
many other Nations of the Savages, 
and daily add to our strength in Trade 
and Interest; so that we might be suf- 



OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



143 



ficiently enabled to conquer or main- 
tain our Ground against all the Ene- 
naies to the Crown of England in Amer- 
ica, both Christian and Savage. 

What Children we have of theirs to 
learn Trades, etc., ought to be put into 
those Hands, that are Men of the best 
Lives and Characters, and that are not 
only strict Observers of their Religion, 
■but also of a mild, winning and sweet 
Disposition, that these Indian Parents 
may often go and see how tvell their 
Children are dealt with, which would 
much win them to our Ways of Living, 
Mildness being a Vertue that Indians 
are in love withal, for they do not prac- 
tice beating and correcting their Chil- 
dren as we do. A general Complaint 
is that it seems impossible to convert 
these People to Christianity, a.^, at 
first sight it does; and as for those in 
N"ew Spain, they have the prayers of 
that Church in Latin by Rote, and 
know the external Behavior of Mass 
and Sermons; yet scarce any of them 
are steady and abide with Constancy 
in Good Works, and the Duties of the 
Christian Church. We And that the 
Puentes and several other of the noted 
Indian Families about Mexico, and in 
other parts of New Spain, had given 
several large Gifts to the Altar, and 
outwardly seem'd fond of their New 
Religion; yet those that were the great- 
est Zealots outwards, on a strict En- 



quiry were found guilty of Idolatry and 
Witchcraft; and this seems to proceed 
from their co-habiting, which, as I have 
noted before, gives opportunities of 
Cabals to recall their ancient pristine 
Infidelity and Superstitions. They nev- 
er argue against our Religion, but with 
all imaginable indifference own, that 
it is most proper for us that have been 
brought up in it. 

In my Opinion, its better for Chris- 
tians of a mean fortune to marry with 
the Civilized Indians^ than to suffer the 
Hardships of four or five Tears Servi- 
tude, in which they meet with Sickness 
and Seasonings amidst a Crowd of other 
afflictions, which the Tyranny of a bad 
Master lays upon such poor Souls, all 
which those acquainted with our To- 
bacco Plantations are not Strangers to. 

This seems to be a more i-easonable 
Method of converting the Indians, than 
to set up our Christian Banner in a 
Field of Blood, as the Spaniards have 
done in New Spain, and baptise one 
hundred with the Sword for one at the 
Font. Whilst we make way for a 
Christian Colony, through a field of 
blood, and defraud, and make away 
with those that one day may be wanted 
in this World, and in the next appear 
against us, we make way for a more 
potent Christian Eneniy to Invade us 
hereafter, of which we may repent, 
when too late. 



(the end.) 



Col. Wm. Byrd's Survey of Dividing Line. 



The Colonies of Virginia atid North Carolina Set Off From Each Other — 
The Virginia Gentleman' s Humorous and Caustic Comments on Men 
and Manners — First Expedition Sent Out by Sir Walter Raleigh to 
These Shores — Queen Elizabeth' s First Experience With the "Bewitch- 
irig Weed'' {Tobacco) — Tribute to Presbyterians — ''Secret History" of 
William Pc7in — Pays Respects to Saints of New England — Hard on 
North Carolinians. 



Raleigh, Oct. 2.— A number of per- 
sons have written me, expressing a de- 
Bire for the republication of Col. Wil- 
liam Byrd's History of the Dividing 
Line between Virginia and North Car- 
olina." While the book is not a large 
one, it will not be necessa.ry to repub- 
lish it, but merely to give some ex- 
tracts from it. The book is of very 
great ir.terest and is rare. The copy of 
it frctn these extracts are made is the 
property of Bishop Josepn Blount Ches- 
hire, who purchased it in 1S73 and it 
bears this inscription: "Wilh the re- 
spects of Ed Ruffin." Mr. RufRn and 
his brother, Julian, publishes what are 
known as the Westover Manuscripts in 
1841, at Petersburg. Edmund Ruffln 
was the man who fired the first gun at 
Fort Sumter. 

The manuscripts of Col. William 
Byrd, of Westover, Va., date from 1728 
to 1736, and are in a large folio vol- 
ume, bound in parchment. The manu- 
scripts show that they were written for 
the amusement of the author, his family 
and friends, and not with any view to 
their being printed, Col. Byrd in his 
"History of the Dividing Line," run in 
the year 1728, begins by a recital of the 
formation of the various British colo- 
r.ies fronting on the Atlantic Ocean, 
showing how one after another they 



were carved out of Virginia, by royal 
grants. All that part of the continent 
stretching as far as the Cape of Flor- 
ida, went at first under the general 
name of Virginia, the only distinction 
in those early days being that all the 
coast south of Chesapeake Bay was 
called South Virginia, and all to the 
north of that bay was called North 
Virginia, Col. Byrd says: "The first 
settlement of this foreign country was 
owing to that great ornament of the 
British nation, Sir Walter Raleigh, who 
obtained a grant thereof from Queen 
Elizabeth, of ever-glorious memory, by 
letters patent, dated March 25, 1584, but 
whether the gentleman ever made a 
voyage hither himself is uncertain, 
because those who have favored the 
public with an account of his life men- 
tion nothing of it. However, this much 
may be depended on, that Sir Walter 
invited sundry persons of distinction 
to share his charter and join their 
purses with his in the laudable pro- 
ject of fitting out a colony to Virginia. 
Accordingly two ships were sent away 
that very year, under the command of 
his good friends Amidas and Barlow, 
to take possession of the country in 
the name of his royal mistress, the 
Queen of England. These worthy com- 
manders, for the advantage of the 



146 



BYRD S SURVEY 



trade winds, shaped their course first 
to the Charibbe. (Carribean) Islands, 
thence stretching away by the Gulf of 
Florida, dropped anchor not far from 
Roanoke inlet. They ventured ashore 
near that place, upon an island now- 
called Colleton Island, where they set 
up the arms of England and claimed 
the adjacent country in right of their 
sovereign lady, the Queen, and this 
ceremony being duly performed, they 
kindly invited the neighboring Indians 
to traffic with them. These poor people 
at first approached the English with 
great caution, having heard much of 
the treachery of the Spaniards, and not 
knowing but these strangers might be 
as treacherous as they. But, at length, 
discovering a kind of good nature in 
their looks, they ventured to draw near 
and barter their skins and furs for the 
bawbles and trinkets of the English. 
These first adventurers made a very 
profitable voyage, raising at least 1,000 
per cent, on their cargo. Among other 
Indian commodities they brought over 
some of that bewitching vegetable, to- 
bacco. And this being the first that 
ever came to England, Sir Waller 
thought he could not do less than make 
a present of some of the brightest of 
It to his royal mistress, for her smok- 
ing] The Queen graciously accepted it, 
but finding her stomach sicken after 
two or three whiffs, it was presently 
whispered by the Earl of Leicester'.s 
faction that Sir Walter had certainly 
poisoned her. But her majesty soon 
recovering her disorder, obliged ihe 
Countess of Nottingham and all her 
maids to smoke a whole pipe out among 
them. As it happened some ages be- 
fore to the fashion to saunter to the 
Holy Land, and go upon other Quixote 
adventures, so it was now grown the 
humor to take a trip to America. The 
Spaniards had lately discovered rich 



mines in their part of the West Indies, 
which made their maritime neighbors 
eager to do so too. This modish frenzy 
being still more inflamed by the 
charming account of Virginia by the 
first adventurers, made many fond of 
removing to such a paradise. Happy 
was he, and still happier she, that could 
get themselves transported, fondly ex- 
pecting their coarsest utensils in that 
happy place would be of massive silver. 
This made it easy for the company to 
produce as many volunteers as they 
wanted for their new colony; but, like 
most other undertakers who have no 
assistance from the public, they starved 
the design by too much frugality, for, 
unwilling to launch out at first in too 
much expense, they shipped off but few 
people at a time and those but scanti- 
ly provided. The adventurers were be- 
sides idle and extravagant, and expect- 
ed they might live without work in so 
plentiful a country. These wretches 
were set ashore not far from Roanoke 
Inlet, but by some fatal disagreement, 
or laziness, were either starved or cut 
to pieces by the Indians. Several re- 
peated misadventures of this kind did, 
for some time, allay the itch of sailing 
to this new world, but the distemper 
broke out again about the year 1666. 
Then it happened that the Earl of 
Southampton and several other per- 
sons, eminent for their quality and »»s- 
tates, were invited into the company, 
who applied themselves once more to 
people the then almost abandoned col- 
ony. For this purpose they embarked 
about a hundred men, most of them 
reprobates of good families, and relat- 
ed to some of the company, who were 
men of quality and fortune. The ships 
that carried them made a shift to find 
a more direct way to Virginia and ven- 
tured through the capes into the bay of 
Chesapeake. The same night they 



OF THE DIVIDING LINE. 



147 



came to an anchor at the mouth of the 
Powhatan, the same as James river, 
where they built a small fort at a plac; 
called Point Comfort. This settlement 
stood its ground from that time for- 
ward, in spite of all the blunders and 
disagreements of the first adventurers, 
and the many calamities that befell the 
colony afterwards. These found the 
first adventurers in a very starving 
condition, but relieved their wants with 
the fresh supply they brought with 
them. From Kiquotan they extended 
themselves as far as Jamestown where, 
like true Englishmen, they built a 
church that cost no more than fifly 
pounds, and a tavern that cost five 
hundred. They had now made peace 
with the Indians, but there was one 
thing wanting to make that peace last- 
ing. The natives could by no means 
persuade themselves that the English 
were heartily their friends, so long aa 
they disdained to intermarry with 
them. And, in earnest, had the English 
consulted their own securitv and the 
good of the colony: had they intended 
either to civilize or convert these gen- 
tiles, they could have brought their 
stomachs to embrace this prudent al- 
liance. The Indians are generally tall 
and well-proportioned, which may 
make full amends for the darkness >)f 
their complexion. Add to this, they 
are healthy and strong, with constitu- 
tions untainted bv lewdness, and not 
enfeebled by luxury. Besides, morals 
and all considered, I cannot think the 
Indians were much greater heathens 
than the first adventurers, who, had 
they been good Christians, would have 
had the charity to take this only meth- 
od of converting the natives to Chris- 
tianity. For, after all that can be 
said, a spiightly lover is the most pre- 
vailing missionary that can be seut 
amongst these, or any other infidels. 



Besieges, the poor Indians would bive 
less reason to complain that the Eng- 
lish took away their lands if they had 
received it by way of portion with their 
daughters. Had such affinities beea 
contracted in the beginning how much 
bloodshed would have been prevente'l, 
and how populous would the country 
have become, and consequently, hovsr 
considerable. Nor would the shade of 
the skin been any reproach at this day, 
for if a Moor may be washed white in 
three generations, surely an Indian 
might have been blanched in two. The 
French for their rarts have not been 
so squeamish in Canada, who upon 
trial find an abundance of attraction in 
the Indians. Their late grand monarch 
though it not below even the dignity 
of a Frenchman to become one flesh 
with these people, and therefore order- 
ed 100 livres for ai.y of his subjects, 
man or woman, that would intermarry 
with a native. By this piece of policy 
we find the French interest very mucn 
strengthened amongst the natives, and 
their religion, such as it is, propagated 
just as far as their love. And I hearti- 
ly wish this well-contracted schema 
does not hereafter erive the French an 
advantage over his majesty's good sub- 
jects on the northern continent of 
America. About the same time New 
England was pared off from Virginia 
by letters patent, bearing date April 
10, IGOS. Several gentlemen of the 
town and neighborhood of Plymouth 
obtained this grant, with the Lord 
Chref Justice Popham at their head. 
Their bounds were specified to extend 
from 3S to 45 desrrees of northern lati- 
tude, with a breadth of one hundred 
miles from the sea-shore. The first 
fourteen years this company encoun- 
terered many difficulties, and lost many 
men, though far from being discourag- 
ed, they sent over numerous recruits of 



148 



byrd's survey 



Presbyterians, every year, who for all 
that, had much ado to stand their 
ground, with all their fighting and 
praying. But about the year of 1620 
a large swarm of dissenters fled thither 
from the severities of their stepmother, 
the Church. These saints, conceiving 
the same aversion to the copper com- 
plexion of the natives with that of 
the first adventurers to Virginia, would 
on no terms contract alliances with 
them, afraid, perhaps, like the Jews of 
old, lest they might be drawn into idol- 
atry by those strange women. What- 
ever disgusted them, I cannot say, but 
this false delicacy creating in the In- 
dians a jealousy that the English were 
ill-affected towards them, was the 
cause that many of them were cut off, 
and the rest exposed to various dis- 
tresses. This re-enforcement was land- 
ed not far from Cape Cod, where, for 
their greater security, they built a fort 
and near it a small town, which in 
honor of the proprietors, was called 
New Plymouth. But they still had 
many discouragements, to struggle 
with, though, by being well supported 
from home, they by degrees triumphed 
over them all. Their brethren, after 
this, flocked over so fast, that in a few 
years they extended the settlement one 
(hundred miles along the coast, includ- 
ing Rhode Island and Martha's Vine- 
yard. Thus the colony throve apace, 
and was thronged with long detach- 
ments of indepedents and Presbyte- 
rians who thought themselves perse- 
cuted at home. Though these people 
may be ridiculed for some Pharisaical 
particularities in their worship and be- 
havior, yet they were very useful sub- 
jects, as being frugal and Industrious, 
giving no scandal or bad example, at 
least by any open and public vices. By 
which excellent qualities they had 
much the advantage of the Southern 



colony, who thought their membership 
of the established Church sufficient to 
sanctify very loose and profligate mor- 
als. For this reason New England im- 
proved much faster than Virginia, and 
in seven or eight years New Plymouth, 
like Switzerland, seemed too narrow a 
territory for its inhabitants. But what 
wounded Virginia deepest was the cut- 
ting of Maryland from it, by charter 
from King Charles I to Sir George Cal- 
vert, afterwards Lord Baltimore, bear- 
ing date the 20th of June. 1632. The 
truth of it is, it begat much specula- 
tion in those days, how it came about 
that a good Protestant King should be- 
stow so bountiful a grant upon a zeal- 
ous Roman Catholic. But it is proba- 
ble it was one fatal instance amongst 
many others of His Majesty's com- 
plaisance of the Queen. The proprie- 
tors of New Jersey, finding more trou- 
ble than profit in their new dominions, 
made over their right to several other 
persons, who obtained a fresh grant 
from his royal highness, dated March 
14, 1682. Besides the hope of being safe 
from persecution in this retreat, the 
new proprietors inveigled many over 
by their tempting account of the coun- 
try, that it was a place free from those 
three great scourges of mankind, 
priests, lawyers and physicians. Nor 
did they tell them a word of a lie, for 
the people were yet too poor to main- 
tain these learned gentlemen, who, ev- 
erywhere, love to be well paid for what 
they do; and, like the Jews, cannot 
breathe in a climate where nothing is 
to be gotten. The Jerseys continued 
under the government of these pro- 
prietors till the year 1702, when they 
made a formal surrender of the domin- 
ion to the Queen, reserving, however, 
the property of the soil to themselves. 
So soon as the bounds of New Jersey 
came to be distinctly laid off. it ap- 



OF THE DIVIDING UNE. 



149 



peared there was still a narrow slip of 
land, lying betwixt the colony and 
Maryland. Of this, William Penn, a 
man of worldly wisdom, and some em- 
inence among the Quakers, got early 
notice, and, by the credit he had with 
the Duke of York, obtained a patent for 
it, dated March 14, 1860. It was a little 
surprising to some people how a Quak- 
er should be so much in the good 
graces of a Popish prince, though, af- 
ter all it may be pretty well account- 
ed for. This ingenious person had not 
been bred a Quaker, but in his earlier 
days had been a man of pleasure about 
the town. He had a beautiful form and 
very taking address, which made him 
successful with the ladies, particularly 
with a mistress of the Duke of Mon- 
mouth. By this gentlewoman he had 
a daughter, who had beauty enough 
to riiae her to be a duchess, and con- 
tinued to be a toast full 30 y?ars. But 
this armour had like to have brought 
our fine gentleman in danger of a duel, 
had he not discreetly sheltered hin^- 
self under his peaceable persuasio. 
Besides his father having been a flag 
officer in the navy while the Duke of 
York was lord high admiiral, might 
have recommended the son to his fa- 
vor. This piece of secret history I 
thought proper to mention, to wipe off 
'the suspicion of his having been Po- 
pishly inclined. But the French and 
Spaniards haid, in the name of their 
respective monarchs, long ago taken po- 
session oif that part of the northern 
continent that now goes by the name 
of Carolina, but finding it produced 
neither gold nor silver, as they greed- 
ily expected, and meeting such return 
from the Indians as their own cruelty 
and treachery deserved, they totally 
abandoned it. In this deserted condi- 
tion the country lay for the space of 
ninety years, till King Charles II find- 



ing it a derelict, granted it away to 
the Earl of Clarendon and others by 
his royal charter, dated March 24, 138G. 
The boundary of that grant towards 
Virginia was a due west line from 
Luck Island, (the same as Colleton Isl- 
and) lying 36 degrees of north latitude, 
quite to the South Sea. But afterwards 
Sir "William Berkeley, who was one of 
the grantees and that time Governor 
of Virginia, finding territory of 31 miles 
in breadth between the inhabited part 
of Virginia and the above mentioned 
boundary of Carolina, advised Ixird 
Clarendon of it, and his lordship had 
interest enough with the King to ob- 
tain a second patent to include it, dated 
June 30, 1665. 

"This last grant describes the bounds 
between Virginia and Carolina in 
these words: to run from the north end 
of Coratuck inlet due west to Weyan- 
oke creek, lying within or about the 
degree of 36 and 30 minutes of north- 
ern latitude and from thence west in 
a direct line as far as the South Sea." 
Without question this boundary was 
well known at the time the charter 
was granted, but in the long course of 
years Weyanoke creek lost its name, so 
that it became a controversy where it 
lay. Some ancient persons in Virgin- 
ia affirmed it was the same with Wic- 
cocon, and others again in Carolina 
were as positive it was Nottoway river. 
In the meantime the people on the fron- 
tiers entered for land and took out 
patents by guess, either from the King 
or the lords proprietors, but the crown 
was like to be the loser by this uncer- 
tainty because the terms both of tak- 
ing up and seating land were much 
easier in Carolina. T^e yearly rental 
taxes to the public were likewise there 
less burdensome, which laid Virginia 
under a plain disadvantage. This con- 
sideration put Virginia upon entering 



I50 



BYRD'S SUR\EY 



into measures with North Carolina to 
terminate the dispute and settle a cer- 
tain boundary between the colonies. 
All the difRculty was to find out which 
was truly Weyanoke croek. The differ- 
ence was too considerable to be given 
up by either side, there being a terri- 
tory of 15 nr>iles betwixt the two 
streams in controversy. However, till 
that matter could be adjusted, it was 
agreed on both sides that no lands at 
all should, be granted within the dis- 
puted bounds. Virginia observed this 
agreement punctually, but I am sorry 
I cannot say the same of North Caro- 
lina. The great officers of that prov- 
ince were loath to lose the fees accu- 
ing from the grants of land, and so 
private interest got the better of pub- 
lic spirit and I wish that there were 
places in the world where such polities 
were fashionable. All the steps that 
were taken afterwards in that affair 
will best appear by the report of the 
Virginia commissioners. It must be 
owned the report of those gentlemen 
was severe upon the then commission- 
ers of North Carolina and particularly 
upon Mr. Moseley. I will not take it 
upon me to say with how much justice 
they said so many hard things, though 
it had been fairer play to have given 
the parties accused a copy of such 
representation, that they might have 
answered what they could for them- 
selves. But since that was not done, 
I must beg leave to say this much in 
behalf of Mr. Moseley, that he was not 
much in the wrong to find fault with 
the quadrant produced by the sur- 
veyors of Virginia, because that instru- 
ment placed the mouth of Nottoway 
river in the latitude of 37 degrees, 
whereas by an accurate observation 
made since it is found that there is an 
error of nearly 30 minutes. The lieu- 
tenant Governor of Virginia at that 



time. Col. Spotswood, searching into 
the bottom of this affair, made very 
equitable proposals to Mr. Eden, at 
that time Governor of North Carolina, 
in order to put an end to this contro- 
versy. These, being formed into pre- 
liminaries, were signed by both Gov- 
ernors and transmitted to England, 
where they had the honor to be rati- 
fied by his late majesty and assented 
to by the lords proprietors of Caro- 
lina. Accordingly an order was sent 
by the late king to Mr. Gooch, after- 
wards Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, 
to pursue those preliminaries exactly. 
In obedience thereunto, he was pleas- 
ed to appoint three of the Council of 
that colony to be commissioners on the 
part of Virginia, who in conjunctioa 
with others to be named by the Gov- 
ernor of North Carolina, were to set- 
tle the boundary between the two gov- 
ernments upon the plan of the above 
mentioned articles." 

In the appendix to Col. Byrd's jour- 
nal is quoted the commission issued by 
Governor Richr.rd Everard in ooedi- 
ence to the king's order. This commis- 
sion runneth in part as follows: "Sir 
Richard Everard, Baronet, Governor, 
Captain General, Admiral and Com- 
mander-inChief of the said province, to 
Christopher Gale, Esq., chief justice; 
John Lovick, Esq., secretary; Edward 
Moseley, Esq., surveyor general, and 
William Little, Esq., attoreny general, 
greeting: Whereas many disputes and 
differences have formerly been between 
the inhabitants of this province and 
those of his majesty's colony of Vir- 
ginia, concerning the boundaries and 
limits between the said two govern- 
ments, which have been duly consid- 
ered by Charles Eden, Esq., late Gov- 
ernor of this province, and Alexand-Dr 
Spotswood, Esq., late Governor of 
Virginia, they agreed to certain pro- 



OF THE DIVIDING LINE 



151 



posals for determining the said con- 
troversy and humbly offered the samr^ 
for his majesty's royal approbatioii 
and the consent of the true and abso- 
lute lords proprietors of Carolina." 
Governor Everard then directed them 
to join in making the survey. He gave 
this order at the council chamber in 
Edenton, February 21, 1727. The com- 
missioners for Virginia were William 
Byrd, Richard Fitz-William, and Wil- 
liam Dandridge. The surveyors for 
North Carolina were Edward Moseley 
and Samuel Swan, while Alexander Ir- 
vin and William Mayo were the sur- 
veyors for Virginia. The Rev. Peter 
Fountain was the chaplain for the en- 
tire party. The total expense of run- 
ning the line was 1,000 pounds, or $5,000 
Bay, in our money, and this sum was 
discharged by a warrant out of his 
majesty's quit rents from the lands of 
Virginia. 

What may be called the real history 
of the dividing line is in a shape of u, 
diary, which begins February 27, 1728, 
and says: "The surveyors for Virginia 
■were Mr. Mayo, who made the accu- 
rate map of Barbadoes, and Mr. Irvin, 
the mathematics professor of William 
and Mary College. .n.nd because a good 
number of men were to go upon this 
expedition a chaplain was appointed to 
attend them, and the rather because 
the people on the frontiers of North 
Carolina, who have no minister near 
them, might have an opportunity to 
get themselves and their children bap- 
tized. Sir Richard Everard, of North 
Carolina, appointed four members of 
the council of that province to take 
care of the interests of the lords pro- 
prietors. Of these, Mr. Moseley was to 
serve in a double capacity, both as 
commissioner and surveyor. For that 
reason there was but one other sur- 
veyor from thence, Mr. Swan. All the 



persons being thus agreed upon, they 
settled the time of the meeting to be 
at Curatuck, March 5, 1728. It was just 
noon before we arrived at Coratuck in- 
let. We saw a small New England 
s'oop riding in the sound. She had 
cme in at the new inlet, as all other 
vessels have done since the opening 
of it. The trade hither is engrossed by 
the saints of New England, who carry 
off a great deal of tobacco without 
troubling themselves with paying that 
impertinent duty of a penny a pound. 
Curatuck inlet is now so shallow that 
the breakers fly over it with the hor- 
rible sound, and at the sanie time af- 
ford a "ery wild prospect. About 2 
o'clock in the afternoon we were joined 
by two of the Carolina commissioners, 
attended by Mr. Swan, their surveyor. 
The other two were not quite so punc- 
tual, which was the more unlucky for 
us, because there could be no sport un- 
til they came. These gentlemen, it 
seems, had the Carolina commission in 
their keep, notwithstanding which they 
could not forbear paying too much re- 
gard to a proverb, fashionable in their 
country, not to make more haste than 
good speed. The commissioners from 
Carolina came better provided for the 
belly than for the business. They 
hrought not above two men along with 
then-i that could put their hands to 
anything but the kettle and the frying- 
pan. These spent so much of their 
industry that way that they had as lit- 
tle spirit as inclination for work. On. 
the 6th, at noon, having perfect obser- 
vation, we found the latitude of Cura- 
tuck inlet to be 36 degrees and 31 min- 
utes. About 3 in the afternoon the two 
lag commissioners arrived and after a 
few decent excuses for making us wait 
told us they were ready to enter upon 
business as soon as they pleased. Our 
first step was to produce our respective 



152 



BYRD'S SURVEY 



powers and the commission from each 
Governor was distinctly read, and cop- 
ies of them interchangebly delivered. 
It was observed by our Carolina friends 
■that the latter part of the Virginia 
commission had something- in it a little 
too lordly and positive. In answer to 
which we told them it was necessary 
to make it thus peremptory, lest the 
present comn-jissioners might go upon 
as fruitless an errand as their prede- 
cessors. The former commissioners 
were tied down to act in exact con- 
junction with those of Carolina, and 
so could not advance one step farther 
or one jot faster than they were pleas- 
ed to oermit them. The memory of that 
disappointment therefore induced the 
government of Virgii.ia to give fuller 
powers to the present commissioners, 
by authorizing them to go on with the 
work themselves, in case those of Car- 
olina should prove unreasonable, and 
refuse to join with them in carrying 
tLe business to execution. And all this 
■was done lest his majesty's gracious in- 
tention should be frustrated a second 
tin-.e." 

The survey was begun under the 
greatP'^t difficulties, the party wading 
through bogs from knee to hip deep. 
They found quagmire after quagmire. 
The people flocked to see them and 
what astonished the natives most was 
how this surveying party with all its 
hard work could be so light-hearted. 
"The Sabbath," said Col. Byrd, "gave 
some ease to the jaded people, who 
rested religiously from every work but 
that of cooking the kettle." The narra- 
tives goes on to &ay: "We observe very 
few corn-fields in our walks and those 
very small, which seemed the stranger 
to us because we could see no other 
tokens of husbandry or improvement, 
but we were given to understand peo- 
ple only made corn for themselves and 



not for their stocks, which know very 
well how to get their own living. Both 
cattle and hogs ramble into the neigh- 
boring marshes and swamps, where 
they maintain themselves the whole 
winter long and are not fetched home 
until the spring. Thus these indolent 
wretches during one-half of the year 
lose the advantage of the milk of their 
cattle and many of the poor creatures 
perish in the marches by this ill-man- 
agement. Some who pique themselves 
upon more industry than their neigh- 
bors will now and then, in compliment 
to their cattle, cut down a tree whose 
limbs are covered with the long hang- 
ing grey moss. The trouble would be 
too great to climb the tree in order to 
gather this moss, but the shortest way 
(which in this country is always count- 
ed the best) is to fell it, just like the 
lazy Indians, who do the same by such 
trees as bear fruit, and so rr^ake one 
harvest for all. The only business here 
is raising hogs which is managed with 
the least trouble and affords the diet 
they are most fond of. The truth of it 
is, the inhabitants of North Carolina 
devour so much swine's flesh that it 
fills them full of gross humors. For 
want of a constant supply of salt, 
they are commonly obliged to eat fresh 
pork, and that begets the highest taint 
of scurvy. Thus whenever a severe cold 
happens to constitutions thus vitiated 
it is apt to improve into the yaws, 
called there very justly the country 
distempc'* which no preparation of 
mercury will touch. First it seizes the 
throat, next the palate and lastly shows 
its spite to the poor nose, in which it 
is apt to in a small time, treacherously 
undermine the foundation. This calam- 
ity is to comimpn and familiar here that 
it ceases to be a soandal and in the 
disputes that happen about beauty, the 
noses have in some companies having 



OF THE DIVIDING LINE 



153 



much ado to carry it. Nay it is said 
thf-it once, after three good pork years, 
a motion had like to have been made 
in the House of Burgesses that a man 
with a nose should, be incapable of 
holding any place of profit in the prov- 
ince, which extraordinary motion could 
never have been intended without 
some hopes of a majority. Thus, con- 
sidering the foul and pernicious effects 
of eating swine's flesh in a hot coun- 
try, it was wisely forbidden and made 
an abomination to the Jews, who lived 
much in the same latitude with Caro- 
lina. We came upon a family of mu- 
lattoes that called then-i?elves free, al- 
though by the shyness of the master of 
the house, who took care to keep least 
In sight, their freedom seemed a little 
doubtful. It is certain many slaves 
shelter themselves in this obscure part 
of the world, nor will any of their right- 
eous neighbors discover them. On the 
contrary, they find their account in 
settling such fugitives on some out-of- 
the-way corner of their land, to raise 
stocks for a mean and inconsiderable 
share, well knowing their condition 
makes it necessary for them to submit 
to any terms. Nor were these worthy 
borderers content to shelter runaway 
slaves, but debtors and criminals hav- 
ing often met with like indulgence. But 
if the government of North Carolina 
has encouraged this un-neighborly pol- 
icy in order to 'increase the population, 
it is no more than ancient Romie did 
before them, which was made a city of 
refuge for all debtors and fugitives, and 
from that wretched beginning grew up 
In time to be mistress of the greater 
part of the world. And, considering 
how fortune delights in bringing great 
things out of small, who knows but 
Carolina may, one time or other, come 
to be the seat of some other great em- 
pire? 



"The line cut many plantations, leav- 
ir^ part in Virginia, part in Carolina, 
to the great inconvenience of the own- 
ers, who were therefore obliged to take 
out two patents and pay for a new sur- 
vey in each government. We could not 
be tempted to lodge in houses; we 
chose rather to lie in the open field, 
for fear of growing too tender. A 
clear sky spangled with stars, was our 
canopy, which, being the last thing we 
saw before we fell asleep, gave us mag- 
nificent dreams. The truth of it is we 
took so much pleasure in that natural 
kind of lodging, that I think at the 
foot of the account mankind are great 
losers by the luxury of feather beds and 
warm apartments. The curiosity of be- 
holding so new and withall so sweet a 
method of encamping, brought one of 
the Senators of North Carolina to make 
us a midnight visit. But he was so 
very clamorous in his commendations 
of it, that the sentinel not seeing his 
quality, either through his habit or 
behaviour, had like to have treated 
him roughly. After excusing the un- 
reasonableness of his virit, and letting 
us know he was a Parliament man, he 
swore he was so taken with our lodg- 
ing that he would set fire to his house 
as soon as he got home, and teach 
his wife and children to lie like us, in 
the open field. On the 13th, early in 
the morning, our chaplain repaired to 
us with the men we had left at Mr. 
Wilson's. We sent for them the even- 
ing before to relieve those who had 
the labor-oar from Curatuck inlet. But 
to our great surprise they petitioned 
not to be relieved, hoping to gain im- 
mortal reputation by being the first of 
mankind that ventured through the 
great Dismal swamp, but the rest be- 
ing equally desirous of the same hon- 
o-^ it was but fair to decide their pre- 
tensions by lot. After fortune had de- 



154 



BYRDS SURVEY 



Glared herself, those which she had ex- 
cluded, offered money to the happy per- 
sons, to go in their steac" But Her- 
cules would have as soon sold the glory 
of cleansing the Augean stables, which 
■was pretty near the same sort of woik. 
"On the 13th before 9 o'clock in the 
morning, the provisions, bedding and 
other necessaries, were made up into 
packs for the men to carry on their 
shoulders into the Dismal. They were 
victualled for eight days at full al- 
lowance, nobody doubting but that 
would be abundantly sufficient to car- 
ry them through that Inhospitable 
place, nor indeed was it possible for 
the poor fellows to stagger under more. 
As it was their loads weighed from 60 
to 70 pounds, in just proportion to the 
etrength of those who were to bear 
them. It would have been unconscion- 
able to have saddled thei.i with bur- 
de.is heavier than that, when they were 
to lug them through a filthy bog, which 
was hardly practicable with no burden 
at all. Besides this luggage at their 
backs they were obliged to measure the 
dir.tance, mark the trees, and cUar the 
way for the surveyors every step they 
went. It was really a pleasure to see 
with how much cheerfulness they un- 
dertook and with how r.-uch spirit they 
went through all this drudgery. For 
their greater safety the commission- 
ers took care to furnish them with Pe- 
ruvian bark, rhubarb, hipocoacauah, in 
ca^e they might happen in that wet 
journey to be taken with fevers or 
fluxes. Although there was no need of 
example to inflame persons already so 
cheerful, yet to enter the people with 
the better grace, the author and 
two more of the commissioners accom- 
panied them half a mile into the Dis- 
mal. The skirts of it were thinly plant- 
ed with dwarf reeds and gall bushes, 
but when we got into the Dismal itself 



we found the reews grew there much 
taller and closer, and to mend the mat- 
ter were so intei laced with bamboo 
briars that there was no scuffling 
through them without the help of the 
pioneers. At the same time we found 
the ground moist and trembling under 
our feet like a quagmire, insomuch that 
it was an easy matter to run the head 
of a ten-foot pole up to the head of it, 
without exerting any uncommon 
strength to do it. Two of the men, 
whose burdens were the least cumber- 
some, had orders to march before with 
their tomahawks and clear the way. in 
order to make an opening for the sur- 
veyors. By their assistance we made a 
shift to rush a line half a mile in 
three hours, and then reached a small 
piece of flrm land, about ICO yards wide, 
standing up above the rest like an isl- 
anl. Here the people were glad to lay 
down their loads and take a little re- 
freshments, while the happy man whose 
lot it was to carry the jug of rum, be- 
gan already, like Aesop's bread-car- 
rier, to find it grow a good deal light- 
er. 

"In the meantime the three commis- 
sioners returned out of the Dismal the 
same way they went in, and having 
joined their brethren proceeded that 
night as far as Mr. Wilson's. This 
worthy person lives within sight of the 
Dismal, in the skirts whereof his stock 
ranges and maintain themselves all the 
winter, and yet he knev as little of It 
as he did of Terra Australia Incognita. 
He told a Canterbury Tale of a North 
Briton whose curiosity spurred him a 
long way into this great desert, as he 
called it, near twenty years ago, bJt 
he having no compass, nor seeing the 
sun for several days together wandered 
about until he was almost famished, 
but at last he bethought himself of a 
secret his countrymen make use of to 



OF THE DIVIDING LINE 



155 



corr^ out. being for the most part ap- 
pilot themselves a dark day. He took 
a fat louse out of his collar, and ex- 
posed it to the open day light on a 
pi^ce of white paper, which he brought 
along with him for his journal. The 
poor insect, having no eyelids, turned 
himself about until he found the dark- 
est part of the heavens, and so made 
the best of his way towards the north. 
By this direction he steered himself 
safe out and gave such a frightful ac- 
count of the monsters he saw and the 
distresses he underwent tMt nobody 
sin-e had been hardy enough to go 
upon the like dangerous discovery. 

"The Quakers prevailed much in this 
part of the country, for want of min- 
isters to pilot the people a decenter 
way to heaven. Th" ill-reputation of 
tobacco planted in the lower Virginia 
parishes makes the clergy unwilling to 
accept of them, unless it be such who?e 
aLilities are as mean as their pay. It 
is a wonder no Popish missionaries are 
sent from Maryland to labor in this 
neglected vineyard, v.ho we know have 
zeal enough to traverse sea and land 
on the meritorious errand of making 
converts. Nor is it less strange that 
some wolf in sheep's clothing arrives 
not from New England to lead astray 
a flock that has no shepherd. People 
uninstructed in any religion are ready 
to embrace the first that offers. It <s 
natural for helpless man to adore his 
Maker in some form or other, and were 
there any exceptions to this rule I 
should suspect it to be among the Hot- 
tentots of the Cape of Good Hope and 
of North Carolina. Since the surveyors 
had entered the Dismal they had laid 
eys on no living creature. Not ro 
much as a frog can endure so aguish 
a situation. It had one beauty how- 
ever, that delighted the eye, though at 
the expense of all the other senses. The 



moisture of the soil makes every plant 
an evergreen, but at the same time the 
foul damps ascend without ceasing, 
corrupt the air and render it unfit for 
reppiration. Not eve.i a turkey-buzzard 
will venture to fly oa er it. In these sad 
circumstances the kindest thing we 
could do for our suftering friends was 
to give themi a place in Litany. Our 
chaplain, for his part, did his office and 
rubbed us up with a seasonable ser- 
mon. This was quite a new th'ing to 
our brethren of North Carolina, who 
live in a climate where no clergymen 
can breathe any more than spiders in 
Ireland. For want of men in holy 
orders, both the members of the coun- 
cil and justices of the peace are em- 
powered by the laws of that country to 
marry all those who will not take one 
another's word, but for the ceremony 
of christening their children they trust 
that to chance. If a parson comes In 
their way Will crave a cast of 12 hia 
office, as they call it, else they are con- 
tent their offspring should remain as 
arrant pagans as themselves. They ac- 
count it anr.ong their greatest advan- 
tages that they are not priest-ridden, 
not remembering that the clergy is 
rarely guilty of bestriding such as have 
the misfortune to be poor. One thing 
may be said for the inhabitants of 
North Carolina, they that are not 
troubled with any religious fumes, and 
have the least superstitions of any peo- 
ple living. They do not know Sunday 
fron-j any other day, any more than 
Robinson Crusoe did, which would give 
them a great advantage were they 
given to be industrious. But they keep 
so many Sabbaths every week that 
their disregard of the seventh day has 
no manner of cruelty in it either to 
servants or cattle. Whole flocks of wo- 
men and children flew hither to stare 
at u='. Some boidsrers, too, had a pfreat 
mind to know where the line would 



156 



byrd's survey 



prehensive lest their lands should be 
taken into Virginia. In that case thej' 
must have submitted to some sort of 
order and government, whereas in 
North Carolina every one does what 
seems best in his own eyes. There were 
some good women that brought their 
children to be baptized, but brought no 
capons along with them to make the 
solemnity cheerful. In the meantime it 
was strange that none came to be mar- 
ried in such a multitude, if it had only 
been for the novelty of having their 
hands joined by one in holy orders. 
Yet so it was that though our chap- 
lain chr'istened above a hundred he did 
not marry so much as one couple dur- 
ing the entire expedition. 

"We began to be very greatly alarm- 
ed about our people who were in the 
Dismal, the 22nd being the 9th day 
since they entered into that inhospita- 
ble swamp, and consequently we ha^i 
reason to believe their provisions were 
quite spent. In the midst of our con- 
cern we were most agreeably surpris- 
ed with the news that they were all 
safe. The blessed tidings were brought 
us by Mr. Swan, the Carolina surveyor, 
who came to us in a very tattered con- 
dition. Our surveyors told us they had 
measured ten miles in the Dism.al and 
computed the distance they had since 
marched to amount to about five more, 
so they made the whole breadth to be 
15 miles. It may be computed at a 
medium to be about 30 miles long and 
ten miles broad, though where the line 
crossed it completed 15 miles wide. The 
exhalations that continually rise from 
this vast body of mire and nastiness 
infect the air for many miles around, 
and render it very unwholesome for the 
bordering inhabitants. It makes them 
liable to agues, pleurises and many 
other distempers that kill abundance of 
people and make the rest look no bet- 
ter than ghosts. It would require a 



great sum of money to drain it, but 
the public treasury could not be better 
bestowed than to preserve the lives of 
his majesty's leige people and at the 
same time render so great a tract of 
."■iwamp very profitable, besides the ad- 
vantage of making a channel to trans- 
port by water carriage goods from Al- 
bemarle sound to Nansemond sound 
and Elizabeth river in Virginia. On the 
24th, being Sunday, we had a num>er- 
ous congregation which flocked to us 
from all the adjacent country. The 
news that our surveyors were come 
out of the Dismal increased the num- 
ber very much, because it would give 
them on opportunity of guessing at 
least whereabouts the line would cut, 
whereby they might form some judg- 
ment whether they belonged to Vir- 
ginia or Carolina. Those who had 
taken up land within the disputed 
bounds were in great psin lest it 
would be found to lie in Virginia, be- 
cause this being done contrary to an 
express order of that governm,ent, the 
patentees had great reason to fear 
they should in that case have lost their 
land. But their apprehensions were 
now at an end when they understood 
that all the territory which had been 
controverted was like to be left in Car- 
olina. It approaches nearer to the de- 
scr'iption of lubber land than any other, 
by the great felicity of the climate, the 
easiness of raising provisions and the 
slothfulness of the people. The men, 
for their part, just like the Indians, Im- 
pose all the work upon the poor wo- 
men. They make their wives rise out 
of their beds early in the morning, at 
the same time that they lie and snoro 
till the sun has risen one-third of its 
course and dispersed all the unwhole- 
some damps. Then, after stretching and 
yawning for half an hour, they light 
their pipes and under the protection of 
to secure them, so that the building is 



OF THE DIVIDING LINE 



157 



a cloud of smoke venture out into the 
open air, though if it happens to be 
never so cold, they quickly return shiv- 
ering into the chimney corners. When 
the weather is mild they stand leaning 
with both their am>s upon the corn- 
field fence and gravely consider wheth- 
er they had best go and take a small 
heat at the hoe, but generally find 
reasons to put it off to another time. 
Thus they loiter away their lives, like 
Bolomon's sluggard, with their arms 
croS'Sed, and at the winding up of the 
year scarcely have enough bread to 
eat. To speak the truth it is a thor- 
ough aversion to labor that makes 
people file off to North Carolina, where 
plenty and a warm climate confirm 
them in their disposition to laziness for 
their whole lives. Since we were like 
to be confined in this place till the peo- 
ple returned out of the Dismal, it was 
agreed that our chaplain might safely 
take a turn to Edenton, to preach the 
Gospel to the infidels there and chris- 
ten their children. He was accompanied 
thither by Mr. Little, one of the Caro- 
lina commiissioners, who to show his 
regard to the Church, offered to treat 
him on the road with a fricasse of rum. 
They fried half a dozen rashers of 
very fat bacon in a pint of rum, both 
of which being dished up together, 
served the company at once both for 
meat and drink. Most of the ruin 
they get in this country comes from 
New England and is so bad and. un- 
wholesome that it is not improperly 
called 'Kill Devil.' Their molasses 
comes froni the same country and has 
the name of 'long sugar' in Carolina. 
I suppose from the ropiness of it, and 
serves all the purposes of sugar, both 
In their eating and driijking. Ve-y 
few in this country have the industry 
to plant orchards, which in a dearth of 
rum might supply them with much bet- 



ter liquor. The truth is there is one 
inconvenience that easily discourages 
lazy people from making this improve- 
ment. Very often in autumn when the 
apples begin to ripen they are visited 
with numerous flights of paroqquets, 
that bite all the fruit to pieces in a 
moment for the sake of the kernals. 
The havoc they make is son-jatimes so 
great that whole orchards are laid 
waste in spite of all the noises that can 
be made or mawkins that can be 
dressed up to frighten them away. 
These ravenous birds visit North Caro- 
lina only during the warm season and 
so soon as the cold begins to come on 
retire back towards the sun. They 
rarely venture so far north a:: Virginia 
except in a very hot summer, when 
they visit the most southern parts of 
it. They are very beautiful, but like 
some other pretty creatures are apt to 
be loud and mischievous. Betwixt this 
and Edenton there are many whortle- 
berry slashes, which afford a conven- 
ient harbor for wolves and foxes. The 
first of these wild beasts is not so large 
and fierce as they are in other coun- 
tries more northerly. They will not at- 
tack a man in the keenest hunger, but 
will run away from him as from an an- 
im.al more mischievous than them- 
selves. The foxes are much bolder, and 
will sometimes not only make a stand 
but likewise assault any one that would 
balk them of their prey. The inhabi- 
tants hereabouts take the trouble to 
dig abundance of wolf pits, so deep 
and perpendicular that when a wolf is 
once trapped Into them, he can no more 
scramble out of them than a husband 
who has taken the leap can scramble 
out of matrimony. Most of the houses 
in this part of the country are log 
houses, covered with pine and cypress 
shingles, three feet long and one 
broad. They are hung upon laths with 



158 



byrd's survey 



pegs and their doors too turn upon 
woodon hinges and have wooden locks 
finished without nails or other iron 
Avoik. At Edentcn there may be forty 
of fifty houses, most of them small and 
t)uilt without expense. A citizen hare 
i~ counted extravagant if he has ambi- 
tion enough to aspire to a brick chim- 
ney. Justice herself is but indifferent- 
ly lodged, the court houses having 
m.uch the air of a common tobacco 
house. I believe this is the only me- 
tropolis in the Christian or Mohame- 
tan world where there is neither 
church, chapel, mosque, synagogue, or 
any other place of public worship of 
any sect or religion whatsoever. What 
liitle devotion there may happen to be 
is much more private than their vices. 
The people seem easy without a minis- 
ter, as long as they are exempted from 
paying him. Sometimes the Society 
for Propagating the Gospel has had 
the charity to send over njissionaries 
to this country, but unfortunately the 
priest h:is been too lewd for the peo- 
ple, or, which oftener happens, they too 
lewd for the priest. For these reasons 
these reverend, gentlemen have always 
left their flocks as arrant heathens as 
they found them. This much, how- 
ever, may be said of the inhabitants 
of Edenton, that not a soul has the 
least taint of hypocrisy or supersti- 
tion, acting very frankly and above 
board in all their excesses. Provisions 
here are extremely good, so that people 
may live pleniifully at a trifling ex- 
pense. Nothing is dear but law, physic 
and strong drink, which are all bad in 
their kind, and the last they gtt with 
so much difRculty that they are never 
guilty of the sin of suffering it to sour 
upon their hands. They are rarely 
guilty of flattering for making any 
court to their Governors, but treat 
them with all the excesses of freedom 



and familiari'y. They are of opinion 
their rulers would be apt to grow in- 
solent if they grew rich and for that 
reason take care to keep them poorer 
and more dependent if possible than 
the saints in Xew England used to lo 
their Governors. They have very lit- 
tle corn, so ihey are forced to carry 
on their horr^e traiHc with paper money. 
This is the only cash that will tary in 
the country, and for that reason the 
discount goes on increasing between 
that and real money and will do so to 
the end of the chapter. Our time oass- 
ed heavily on our hands, when we were 
quite eloyed with the Carolina felicity 
of having nothing to do. It is really 
more insupportable than the greatest 
fatigue and made us even envy the 
drudgery of our friends in the Dismal. 
In making our survey care was taken 
to erect a post in every road that our 
lines ran through, with 'Viginia' carved 
on the north side of it and North Car- 
olina' carved on the south. By per- 
mission of the Carolina commissioners 
Mr. Swan was allovAod to go home as 
s'oon as the survey of the Dismal was 
finii'hed. He rr<et with this indulgence 
for a reason that might very well have 
excused his coming at all, nam.ely that 
he was lately married. What remained 
of the drudgery for this season was 
left to Mr. Moseley, who had hitherto 
acted only in the capacity of a com- 
missioner. They offered to employ Mr. 
Joseph Mayo as their surveyor in Mr. 
Swan's s;ead. but he thought it not 
proper to accept of it, because he had 
hitherto acted as a volunteer in behalf 
ci Virginia, and did not care to changei 
sides though it might mave been to his 
advantage. We christened two of the 
children of our landlord, Mr. Paiker, 
which might have remained infidels all 
their lives had we not carried Christi- 
anity home to his own door. The truth 



OF THE DIVIDING LINE 



159 



of it is our neighbors of North Caro- 
lina are not so zealous as to go nr^uch 
out of their way to procure this bene- 
fit for their children. Otherwise bein^ 
so near Virginia they might without 
exceeding much trouble maice a journey 
to the next clergyman upon so gcod .in 
errajid, and, indeed, should the neigh- 
boring ministers once in two or ihree 
years vouchsafe to take a turn among 
these Gentiles, to baptize them and 
their children, it would look a little 
apostolical and they might hope to be 
requitted for it hereafter, if that be not 
thought too long to tarry for their re- 
ward. Wherever we passed we con- 
stantly found the borderers laid it to 
heart if their land was taken into Vir- 
ginia. They chose much rather to be- 
long to Carolina, where they paid no 
tribute either to God or to Caesar. 
Another reason was that the govern- 
ment there is so loose and the laws 
are so feebly executed that, i;ke those 
in the neighborhood of Sidon formerly, 
every one does just what seems good. 
in his own eyes. Besides thare might 
have been sonrje danger in venturing to 
be rigorous, for fear of undergoing the 
fate of an -honest justice in Curatuck 
precinct. This bold magistrate, taking 
it upon him to order a fellow to the 
stocks for being disorderly in his drink, 
was for his intemperate zeal, carried 
thither himself and narrowly escaped 
being whipped by the rabble into the 
bargain. We found the mouth of Notto- 
way river to lie no n>ore than half a 
minute farther to the northward than 
Mr. Lawson had formerly done. 

Col. Byrd says that on the 2nd of 
April, three of the Mtherrin Indians 
paid the commissioners and surveyors 
a visit. He adds: "They told us the 
small remains of their nation had de- 
serted their ancient town, situated near 
th3 mouth of the Meherrin river, for 



fe:.r of the Cat?.wbas, who had killed 
fourteen of their people the year be- 
fore, and the few that survived that 
calamity had taken refuge amongst 
the English on the east side of Chow- 
a.i river. If the c-mplaint of these In- 
dians was true, they are hardly used 
b;- our Carolina friends, but they are 
the least to be pitied because they have 
e\cr been reputed most false and 
treacherous to the English of all tho 
Indians in the neighborhood. Becau.se 
the spring was now pretty forward and 
the rattlesnakes beg..n to crawl out of 
their winter quarters end might prove 
dangerous both to the men and to their 
horses, it was determined on the 5tli 
of April to proceed no farther with the 
line until the fall. Besides the uncom- 
r.cn fatigue the people had undergone 
for near six weeks together, and the 
inclination they all had to visit their 
respective families, made a recess high- 
ly reasonable. The surveyors were em- 
ployed a greater part of the day in 
forming a correct and elegant map of 
the line from Currutuck Inlet to the 
place where they left off. They found 
tl J whole distance they had run was 
73 miles, of the map they made two fair 
copies, which, agreeing exactly, were 
subscribed by the commisb-oners of 
both colonies, and one of them was de- 
livered to those on the part of Virgin- 
ia and the other to those on the part 
of North Carolina. On the 6th we thus 
finished our spring campaign and hav- 
ing taken leave of our Carolina friends, 
we agreed to meet them on the 10th of 
Se.Jtember following, at the same place. 
On the following day we dispatched a 
runner to the town of the Nottoway 
Indians to let them know we intended 
them a visit that evening. Accordingly 
in the afternoon we marched In good 
order to the town, where the female 
scouts stationed on an eminence for 



i6o 



byrd's survey 



that purpose had no sooner spied us, 
but that they gave notice of our ap- 
proach to their fellow-citizens by con- 
tinual whoops and cries, which could 
not have been possibly more dismal 
at the siffht of their most implicable 
ei-omies. This signal assembled all 
their great cnen, who received us in a 
body and conducted us to the fort. This 
fort was a square piece of ground en- 
closed with substantial puncheons, or 
strong palisades, about ten feet high, 
and leaning a little outwards to make 
a scalade more difficult. Each side 
of the square might be about a hun- 
dred yards long, with loop-holes at 
proper distances, tnrough which they 
may fire upon the enemy. Within this 
inclosure we found bark cabins suffi- 
cient to lodge all their people, in case 
young men had pained themselves in a 
These cabins are no other but close ar- 
bours made of saplings, arched at the 
top and covered so well with bark as 
to be proof against all weather. The 
fire is made in the middle, according 
to the Hiberian fashion, the smoke 
whereof finds no otiier vent than at the 
door, and so keeps the whole family 
warm at the expense of their eyes and 
complexion. The Indians have no 
standing furniture in their cabins, but 
hurdles to repose their persons upon, 
Tvhich they cover with mats and deer 
skins. We were conducted to the best 
apartments in the fort, which just be- 
fore had been made ready for our re- 
ception, and adorned with new mats 
that were very sweet and clean. The 
young men had painted themselves in a 
hideous manner, not so much for orna- 
ment as terror. In that frightful equip- 
age they entertained us with songs and 
war dances, wherein they endeavored 
to look as formidable as possible. The 
instrument they danced to was an In- 
dian drum, that is a large goard with 



a skin braced tight over the mouth of 
it. The dancers all sang to the music 
keeping exact time with their feet 
while their heads and arms were screw- 
ed into a thousand menacing postures. 
Upon this occasion the ladies had ar- 
rayed themselves in all their finery. 
They were wrapped in their red and 
blue match coats, thrown so negligent- 
ly about them that their mahogany 
skins appeared in several parts. Their 
hair was braided with white and blue 
peaks and hung gracefully in a large 
roll upon their shoulders. This peak 
consists of small cylinders cut out of a 
conch shell, drilled through and strung 
like beads. It serves them both for 
money and jewels, the blue being of 
much greater value than the white, for 
the same reason that Ethiopian mis- 
tresses in France are dearer than 
French, because they are more scarce. 
The women wear necklaces and brace- 
lets of these precious materials when 
they have a mind to appear lovely. 
Though their complexions be a little 
sad-colored, yet their shapes are very 
straight and well-proportioned. Their 
faces are seldom handsome, yet they 
have an air of innocence and bashful- 
ncss, that with a litle less dirt, would 
not fail to tnake them desirable. Such 
charms might have had their full ef- 
fect upon men who had been so long 
deprived of female conversation, but 
that the whole winter soil was so 
crusted on the skin of those dark an- 
gjls that it required a very strong ap- 
petite to approach them. The bear's 
oil with which the anoint their persons 
all over makes their skins soft and at 
the same time protects them from every 
species of vermin that used to be 
troublesome to other uncleanly people. 
It is by no means a loss of reputation 
among the Indians for damsels that 
are single to have intrigues with the 



OF THE DIVIDING LINE 



l6l 



men; on the contrary they account it 
an argument of superior merit to be 
liked by a great number of gallants. 
However, like the ladies in that gam*?, 
they are a little mercenary in their 
amours, and seldom bestow their favors 
out of stark love and kindness. But 
after these women have once appro- 
priated their charms by marriage they 
are henceforth faithful to their vows 
and will hardly ever be tempted by an 
agreeable gallant or be provoked by a 
brutal or even careless husband to go 
astray. The little work that is done 
among the Indians is done by the poor 
women, while the men are quite idle 
or employed at most in the gentleman- 
ly diversions of hunting and fishing. In 
this, as well as in their wars, they use 
nothing but firearms, which they pur- 
chase of the English for skins. Bows 
and arrows are grown into disuse, ex- 
cept only amongst their boys, nor is 
it ill policy, but on the contrary, very 
prudent, to furnish the Indians with 
firearms, because it makes them de- 
pend entirely on the English not only 
for their trade, but even for their sub- 
sistance. Besides they were really able 
to do nriiore mischief while they made 
use of arrows, of which they would 
silently let fly several in a minute, with 
wondorful dexterity, whereas nov.- they 
hardly ever discharge their firelocks 
more than once, which they insidious- 
ly do from behind a tree and then re- 
tire as nimbly as the Dutch horse used 
to do now and then formerly in Flan- 
ders. We cheered their hearts with 
what rum we had left, which they love 
better than they do their wives and 
children. Though these Indians dwell 
close upon the English and see in what 
plenty a little industry enables them 
to live, yet they choose to continue in 
their stupid idleness and to suffer all 



the inconveniences of dirt, coll and 
want, rather than to disturb their 
heads with care or to defile their 
hands with labor. The whole number 
of people belonging to the Nottoway 
town, if you include women and chil- 
dren, amount to about 200. These are 
only Indians of any consequence now 
remaining within the limits of Virgin- 
ia. The rest are either removed or 
dwindled to a very inconsiderable nun>- 
ber, either by destroying one another, 
or else by the small-pox or other dis- 
eases, though nothing has been so un- 
favorable to them as their ungovern- 
able passion for rum, with which, I am 
sorry to say, they have been put too 
liberally supplied by the English that 
live near them. Many children of our 
neighboring Indians have been brought 
up in the college of William and Mary. 
They have been taught to read and 
write and have been carefully instruct- 
ed in the rrinciples of the Christian re- 
ligion till they came to be men. Yet, 
after they returned home, instead of 
civUizing and converting the rest, they 
immediately relapsed into infidelity and 
barbarism themselves. Some of them, 
too, have made the worst use of the 
knowledge they acquired among the 
English, by employing it against their 
benefactors. Besides, as they unhappi- 
ly forget all the good that they learn 
and ren.ember all the ill, they are apt 
to be more vicious and disorderly than 
the rest of their countrymen. I ought 
not to nuit this subject without doing 
justice to the great prudence of Col, 
Spots wood in this affair. That gentle- 
man was Lieutenant Governor of Vir- 
ginia when Carolina was engaged in 
her bloody war with the Indians. At 
that critical time it was thought ex- 
pedient to keep a watchful eye upon 
our tributary savages, who we knew. 



l62 



byrd's survey 



had nothing to keep them to their duty 
but their fears. Then it was that he 
demanded of each nation a conapetent 
number of their great men's children to 
be sent to the college, where they 
served as so many hostages for the 
good behavior of the rest and at the 
same time were themselves principled 
in the Christian religion. He also 
placed a school-master among the 
Saponi Indians to instruct their chil- 
dren. I must be of opiuion that there 
is but one way of converting these 
poor infidels and reclaiming them from 
barbarity, and that is charitably to in^ 
terniarry with them. Had the English 
done this at first settlement of the 
colony this at first settlement of the 
been worn out at this day with their 
dark complexions and the country had 
swarmed with people uiore than it 
does with insects. It was certainly an 
unreasonable nicety that prevented 
their entering into so good-natured an 
alliance. All nations of men have the 
same natural dignity and we know that 
very bright talents may be lodged in 
a very dark skin, the principal difEer- 
ence between one people and another 
proceeding only from the different op- 
portunities of Improvement. The In- 
dians by no means want understand- 
ing and are in their figures tall and 
well-proportioned. Even their copper- 
colored complexion would admit of 
success. Indeed it was given in larger 
blanching, if not in the first, at the 
farthest in the second generation. I 
may safely venture to say the Indian 
women would have made altogether as 
honest wives for the first planters as 
the damsels they used to purchase from 
aboard the ships. It is strange, there- 
fore, that any good Christian should 
have refused a wholesome, straight 
bed-fellow, when be might have so fair 



a portion with her as the merit of sav- 
ing her soul." 

The agreement with the commission- 
ers of Carolina was to meet again on 
the 10th of September, but when that 
came it was thought a little too soon 
to resume work on account of the 
snakes, so it was agreed to put it off 
to the 20th of said month, of which due 
notice was sent to the Carolina com- 
missioners. The actual work was re- 
sume! on the 21st, and on the next day, 
which was Sunday, Col. Byrd dryly 
says: "When the sermon was over our 
chaplain did his part towards making 
eleven of them Christians. Several of 
our men had intermittent fevers, but 
were soon restored to their health 
agaii- by proper remedies. Our chief 
medicine was dog-wood bark, which we 
used instead of that of Peru, with good 
quantities, but then to make the pa- 
tients amer-Js they swallowed much 
fewer doses. Our hunters brought us 
four wild turkeys, which at that seas- 
on began to be fat and very deUcious, 
especially the hens. These birds seem 
to be of the bustard kind and fly heav- 
ily. Some of them arc exceedingly 
large and weigh upwards of 40 pounds; 
nay, some bold historians venture to 
say upwards of 50 pounds. They run 
very fast, stretching fortn their wings 
all the time like the ostrich, by way of 
sail to quicken their speed. Their spurs 
are so sharp and strong that the In- 
dians used formerly to point their ar- 
rows with them, though now they point 
them with a sharp white stone. I found 
son e plants of that kind of rattlesnake 
root called star-grass. The leaves shoot 
our circulars and grow horizontally 
near the ground. The root is in shape 
not unlike the rattle of that serpent 
and is a strong antidote against tha 
bite of it. It is very bitter and w'here 



OF THE DIVIDING LINE 



163 



It meets with any poison, works by 
violent sweats, but where it meets with 
none, has no sensible u^jeration but that 
of putting the spirits in a great hurry, 
and so of promoting perspiration. The 
rattlesnake has a strong antipathy to 
this plant, insomuch that if you smear 
your hands with the juice of it you 
you may handle it safely. This much I 
can say from my own experience, that 
once i^i July, when these snakes are in 
their greatest vigor, I besmeared a 
dog's nose with the powder of this root 
and made him trample on a large 
snake several times, which, however, 
was so far frorri biting him that it per- 
fectly sickened at the dog's approach 
and turned his head from him with the 
utmost aversion. 

"In the stony grounds we rode over 
we found a great quantity of the true 
Ipocoacanna, (Col. Byrd must have 
meant ipecac) which in this part of the 
world is called Indian physic. This 
has several stalks growing up from 
the same root about a foot high, bear- 
ing a leaf resembling that of a straw- 
berry. It is not so strong as that of 
Brazil, but has the same happy efCects 
if taken in a somewhat larger dose. 
There is abundance of it in the 
upper part of the country, where it 
delights most in a stony soil intermix- 
ed with black mould. On the 28th our 
surveyors crossed the Roanoke river, 
which rolls down a crystal stream of 
very sweet water, insomuch that when 
there comes to be a great monarch in 
this part of the world he will cause all 
the water for his own table to be 
brought from Roanoke, as the great 
kings of Persia did tlieirs from the Nile 
and Choaspis, because the waters cf 
those rivers were light and not apt to 
corrupt. We crossed at a ford called 
by the Indians Moni-Seep, which signi- 



fit.j shallow water. This Is the ford 
where the Indian traders used to cross 
with their horses on their way to the 
Catawba nation. On the 29th a messen- 
ger we had sent returned with five 
Saponi Indians. We agreed with one 
of them to hunt for us. His hunting 
name was Bear Skin, and either by his 
skill or good luck he supplied us plen- 
tifully all the way with meat, seldom 
discharging his piece in vain. The 
woods in the uplands we found had 
been destroyed either by fire or catei> 
pillars, which is often the case in the 
uplands, and such places are called 
poison fields. We here killed our first 
bear. He was very poor, which was a 
disappointment to our woodsmen, who 
commonly prefer the fiesh of bears to 
every other kind of venison. This flesh 
is regarded by the Indians as the 
greatest promoter oi! vitality and of 
child-bearing and we proved it to be 
such. Some of our people shot a great 
wild cat, which is as big again as any 
household cat, and much the fiercest 
inhabitants of the woods. Whenever it 
is disabled it will tear its own flesh 
for madness. On the third of October, 
as we marched tdong we saw many 
buffalo tracks, but we saw not the ani- 
mals, which either smelt us out, bav- 
in- that sense very quick, or else were 
alarmed at the noise of our marching. 
At the sight of a man they will snort 
and grunt, cock up their ridiculous 
short tails and tear up the ground with 
a sort of timorous fury. They hardly 
ever range alone, but herd together, 
and delight much in canes and reeds.. 
On the 5th of October, to our very great 
Bi:rprlse, the commissioners of Carolina 
acquainted us with their resolution to 
return home. This declaration of theirs 
seemed the more abrupt because they 
had not been so kind as to prepare ua 



164 



byrd's survey 



by the least hint of their Intentions to 
desert us. We. therefore, let them un- 
derstand they appeared to us to aban- 
don the business they came about with 
too much precipitation, this being but 
the 15th day since we came out the 
last time. But although we were to be 
so unhappy as to lose the assistance 
of their great abilities, yet we who 
were concerned for Virginia determin- 
ed by the grace of God not to do our 
work by halves, but all deserted as we 
were like to be, should think it -^ur 
duty to push the line quite to the 
mountains, and if their government 
should refuse to be bound by so much 
of the line as was run without their 
commission, yet at least It would bind 
Virginia and stand as a direction how 
far his majesty's lands extend to the 
southward. On the 6th, being Sunday, 
we lay still on the bank of Hico river, 
and had only prayers, our chaplain not 
having spirits enough to preach. The 
gentlemen of Carolina assisted not at 
our public devotion because they were 
taken up all the morning in making a 
formidable protest against our proceed- 
h-S with the line without them. When 
the divine service was over the sur- 
veyors set about making the plots of 
so much of the line as we had run this 
last campaign. Our pious friends of 
Carolina assisted in this work with 
some seeming scruples, pretending it 
was a violation of the Sabbath, which 
we were the more surprised at, be- 
cause it happened to be the first qualm 
of conscience they had ever been 
troubled with during the whole jour- 
ney. They made no bones of staying 
from prayers to hammer out an unnec- 
essary protest, though divine service 
was no sooner over than an unusual fit 
of godliness made them fancy that fin- 
ishing the plots, which was now a 



matter of necessity, was a profanation, 
of the day. However, the expediency 
of losing no time for us who thought 
it our duty to finish what we had un- 
dertaken, made such labor pardona- 
ble. Mr. Fitz-William, one of the Vir- 
ginia commissioners, declared it his 
opinion, that by his majesty's order 
they could not proceed further on the 
line but in conjunction with the com- 
missioners of Carolina, for which reas- 
on he intended to retire the next morn- 
ing with those gentlemen. This looked 
a little odd in our brother commission- 
er, though in justice to him, as well as 
to our Carolina friends, they stuck by 
us as long as our good liquor lasted 
and were so kind to us as to drink our 
good journey to the mountains in the 
last bottle we had left. On the 7th 
those of Carolina delivered their pro- 
test which was by this time licked into 
form and signed by them all. After 
having adjusted all our affairs to the 
Carolina commissioners and kindly 
supplied them with bread, to carry 
them back, which they hardly deseiw^- 
ed at our hands, we took leave both 
of them and of our colleague, Mr. Fitz- 
William. 

"On the 13th, this being Sunday, we 
rested from our fatigue and had leisure 
toreflect on the signal mercies of Prov- 
idence. Our hunters brought in three 
brace of wild turkies and told us they 
could see the mountains distinctly from 
every eminence. We examined our 
friend Bear Skin concerning the re- 
ligion of his country, and he explained 
it to us without any of the reserve to 
which the nation Is subject. He told 
us he believed there was one Supreme 
God, who had several subaltern deities 
under Him, and that this master god 
made the world a long time ago. Then 
he told the moon, the sun and stars 



OF THE DIVIDING UNE. 



165 



their business, in the beginning-, which 
they, with gtiod looking after, have 
faithfully performed ever since. That 
the same power which made all things 
at first has taken care to keep them 
In the same method and motion ever 
since. He believed that God had form- 
ed many worlds before he formed this, 
but that those worlds either grew old 
and ruinous, or were destroyed for the 
dishonesty of the inhabitants. That 
God is ever just and good, ever pleased 
with those men who possess those 
good qualities. That he takes good 
people into his protection, makes them 
rich, fills their bellies plentifully, pre- 
serves them from sickness and from 
being surprised or overcome by their 
enemies. But all such as tell lies and 
cheat those that have dealings with 
them, he never fails to punish with 
sickness, poverty and hunger, and af- 
ter all that, suffers them to be knocked 
on the head and scalped by those that 
fight against theim. He believed that 
after death both good and bad people 
are conducted by a strong guard into 
a great road, in which departed souls 
travel together for some time, till at a 
certain distance this road forks into 
two paths, the one extremely level and 
the other stony and mountainous. Here 
the good are parted from the bad by 
a flash of lightning, the first being 
hurried away to the rxght, the others 
to the left. The right hand road leads to 
a charming warm country, where the 
spring is everlasting and evtry month 
Is May, and as the year is always in 
its youth, so are its people, and par- 
ticularly the women are bright as stars 
and never scold. That in this happy 
climate there are deer, turkeys, elk, 
and buffaloes innumerable, perpetually 
fat and gentle, while the trees are 
loaded with delicious fruit, quite 



throughout the four seasons. That the 
soil brings forth corn spontaneously, 
without the curse of labor, and so very 
wholesome that none who have the 
happiness of eating it ever grow sick 
or old or die, near the entrance into 
this blessed land sits a venerable old 
man on a mat richly woven, who ex- 
amines strictly all that are brought be- 
fore him, and if they Lchave well, the 
guards are ordered to open the crystal 
gate and let them enter into the land 
of delight. The left path is very rug- 
ged and uneven, lea^.ag to a dark and 
barren country where it is always win- 
ter. The ground is the whole year 
round covered with snow, and nothing 
to be seen upon the trees bat icicles. 
All the people are hungry, yet have 
not a morsel of anytning to eat, except 
a bitter kind of potato that gives them 
the dry gripes, and fill:^ their whole 
body with loathsome ulcers, that stink 
and are insupportably painful. Here all 
the women are old and ugly, having 
claws like a panther's, with which they 
fly upon the men that rlight their pas- 
sion. For it seems these haggard old 
furies are intolerably fond and expect 
a great deal of cherishing. They talk 
much and exceedingly shrill, giving ex- 
quisite pain to the drum of the ear, 
which in that place of tonment is so 
tender that every sharp note wounds 
it to the quick. At the end of this path 
sits a dreadful old woman on a toad- 
stool, whose head is covered with rat- 
tlesnakes instead of tresses, with glar- 
ing white eyes that strike terror un- 
speakable into all that behold her. This 
hag pronounces seiitence of woe upon 
all the miserable wretches that hold 
up their hands at her burial. After 
this they are delivered over to huge 
turkey- buzzards, like harpies, that fly 
away with them to the place above 



i66 



byrd's survey 



mentioned. Here, after they have been 
tormented a certain number of years, 
according' to their several degrees of 
guilt, they are driven back again into 
the wor'd to try again to mend their 
manners if they will, and cnerit a 
place next time in the regions of bliss. 
This was the substance of Bear Skin's 
religion, and was as much to the pur- 
pose as could be expected -rom a mere 
state of nature, without one glimpse 
of revelation or philosophy; it contain- 
ed, however, the three great articles of 
natural religion; the t.lief in a God 
the moral distinction betwixt good 
and evil, and the expectation of re- 
wards and punishments in another 
world. Indeed the Indian notion of fu- 
ture happiness is a little gross and 
sensual like Mahomet's paradise. But 
how can it be otherwise in a people 
that are contented with naLure as they 
find her, and have no other lights 
than what they receive from purblind 
tradition? 

"The Indians can subSiSt several days 
upon a little rockanominy, which is 
parched Indian corn redujsd to pow- 
der. This they moisten in the hollow 
• f their hands with i. little water, and 
Is hardly credible how small a quan- 
tity of it will support them. It is true 
they grow a little lank upon it, but 
to make themselves feel well they gird 
up their loins very tight with a belt 
trking up a hole every day. With this 
simple substance they are able to trav- 
el very long journeys, but then to make 
themselves amends, when they do meet 
with good cheer they eat without ceas- 
ing, till they have ravened themselves 
into another famine. 

The Indians had some strange no- 
tions about game, for Col. Byrd says: 
"Our Indian was very superstiiious 
about the matter of our men boiling 



venison and turkeys together, these 
wUh the addition or a little rice or 
French barley making- excellent soup, 
and what happens rarely in other good 
things it never cloys, no more than an 
engaging wife would do, by being a 
constant dish. Our Indian told us with 
a face full of concern that if we con- 
tinued to boil venison and turkey to- 
gether we should for the future kill 
nothing, because the spirit that pre- 
sided over the woods woi d drive all 
the game out of our sight. We were 
entertained at night by the yells of the 
whol"^ family of wolves. These beasts 
of prey kept pretty much upon our 
track being tempted by the garbage of 
tht; creatures we killed every day, for 
which we were serenaded almost every 
night. This beast is not so untamable 
as the panther, but the Indians know 
how to gentle their whelps and use 
them about their cabins instead of 
dogs. On the 11th we came upon the 
River Dan a second time. Hereabout, 
from one of the highest hills, we made 
the first discovery of the mountains, 
on the northwest of our course. They 
seemed to lie off at a vast distance 
and looked like ranges of blue clouds 
rising one above another. We made 
god cheer upon a very fat buck. The 
Indian likewise shot a wild turkey, 
bu': confessed he would not bring it 
to us, lest we should continue to pro- 
voke the guardian of the lorest by 
coking the beasts of the field and the 
birds of the air together in one ves- 
sel. The instance of Indian supersti- 
tion I confess is countenanced in some 
measure by the L.evitlcal law, which 
forbade the mixing things of a differ- 
ent nature together in the same field, 
or in the same ganment, and why not 
then in the same kettle? But after all 
If the Jumbling of things together be 



OF THE DIVIDING UNE 



167 



a sin the good people of England would 
have a great deal to answer for In 
beating up so many different ingredi- 
ents into a pudding. The Indian killed 
a very fat doe and came across a bear 
which had been killed and was half de- 
voured by a panther. The last of these 
brutes reigns absolute monarch of the 
woods, and In the keenness of his hun- 
ger will venture to attack a bear, al- 
though then it is ever by surprise. 
Their play is to take the poor bears 
napping, they being very drowsy ani- 
mals, and though they be exceedingly 
strong, yet their strength is heavy, 
while the panthers are too nimble and 
cunning to trust themselves within 
their hug. In South Carolina they call 
this beast a tiger, though improperly, 
and so they do in some parts of the 
Spanish West Indies. Some of their au- 
thors, a little more properly, complete 
it with the name of a leopard. But j.one 
of these are the growth of America, 
that we know of. On the 17th we cross- 
ed the Dan, which now began to run 
away more southerly, we being well 
assured by the Indians that it runs 
through the tnountains. The atmos- 
phere was smoky all around us, due to 
the firing of the woods by the Indians, 
for we were now near the route the 
Northern savages take when they §ro 
out to war against the Catawbas and 
other Southern Indians. The Northern 
Indians have an implacable hatred to 
those of the South. Their wars are 
everlasting, without any peace, en- 
mity being the only inheritance among 
them that descends from father to son, 
and either party will march a thous- 
and miles to take revenge upon such 
hereditary enemies. Some Indian, re- 
markable for his bravery, and a war 
captain declares his intention of vis- 
iting some Southern nation, and here- 



upon as many of the young fellows as 
have a strong thirst for blood or glory, 
place themselves under his command. 
With these volunteers he goes from 
one confederate town to another, list- 
ing all the rabble he can, till he gath- 
ered together a competent number for 
mischief. Their arms are a gun and a 
tomahawk and all the provisions they 
carry from home is a iouch of rock- 
ahominy. Thus they txiarch towards 
the enemy's country, not in a body or 
by a certain path, but straggling along 
in small numbers for the greater con- 
venience of hunting and passing along 
undiscovered. If they are able to find 
the camp of any Southern Indians, 
they squat down in some thicket and 
keep themselves hushed and' snug until 
it is dark, then, creeping up softly, 
they approach near enough to observe 
all the motions of the enemy and about 
2 o'clock in the mnorning, when they 
conceive them to be in a profound 
sleep, for they never keep watch and 
ward, pour in a volley upon them, each 
singling out his man. The moment 
they have discharged their pieces, they 
rush in with the tomahawks and make 
sure work of all that are disabled. 
Sometimes when they find the enemy 
asleep around their little fire they first 
pelt them with little stones to wake 
them and when they get up fire in 
upon them, being in that posture a bet- 
ter mark than when prostrate on the 
ground. Those that are killed of the 
enemy or disabled they scalp. The pris- 
oners they happen to take alive they 
put to all the tortures that ingenious 
malice and cruelty can invent, and they 
never fail to treat those with greatest 
inhumanity that have distinguished 
themselves most by their bravery, and 
if he be a war captain they do him the 
honor to roast him alive and distribute 



1 68 



BYRD'S SURVEY 



a coUop to all that had a share in steal- 
ing the victory. They are very cunning 
in finding out new ways to torrrient 
their unhappy captives, though like 
those in hell their usual method is by 
fire. Sometimes they barbecue them 
over live coals, taking them off now 
and then to prolong their misery; 
at other times they will stick sharp 
p/ieces of lightwood in the flesh to the 
very bone, and when they take a stout 
fellow that they believe able to endure 
a great deal they will tear all the flesh 
off his bones with red hot pinchers: If 
such cruelties happen to be executed in 
their towns they employ their children 
in 'tormenting the prisoners, in order 
to extinguish in them betin^e all senti- 
ments of humanity. In the meantime, 
while these poor wretches are under all 
the anguish of this inhuman treatment, 
they disdain so much as a groan, sigh 
or to show the least sign of dismay or 
concern, but make it a point of honor 
all the time to soften their features and 
look as pleased as if they were actual- 
ly enjoying some delight, and if they 
never sang before in their lives they 
will be sure to be delodious on this sad 
and dismal occasion. So prodig'ious a 
degree of passive valor in the Indians 
is the more to be wondered at because 
in all articles of danger they are apt 
to behave like cowards. And what is 
still nwre surprising, the very women 
discover on such occasions as great for- 
titude and contempt both of pain and 
death as the gallantest of their men 
do. 

On the 25th, the air clearing up, we 
w^ere again agreeably surprised with 
a full prospect of the mountains, which 
discovered themselves both to the 
north and south of us on either side, 
not distant above ten miles. "We could 
now see those to the north rise in four 
distinct ledges, one above another, but 



those to the south formed only a single 
ledge, and that broken and interrupt- 
ed in many places. The next day we 
found our way grow still more moun- 
tainous, and we came to a rivulet that 
ran with a sWift current toward the 
south. This we fancied to be another 
branch of the Irvin river, though some 
of the men who have been Indian trad- 
ers judged it rather to be the head of 
Deep river, that discharges its stream 
into that of Pee Dee, but this seemed 
a wild conjecture. The bread began 
to grow scanty and the winter seemed 
to advance upon us. We had reason to 
apprehend being intercepted by deep 
snows, and the swelling of many waters 
between us and home, obliging us to 
winter in those desolate woods. These 
considerations determined us to stop 
here and push our adventures no far- 
ther. The last tree we marked was a 
red oak on the bank of the river. We 
found the whole distance from Cora- 
tuck Inlet to the rivulet where we left 
off to be in a straight line 241 miles and 
from the place where the Carolina com- 
missioners deserted us 72 miles. One 
of the men picked up a pair of elks' 
horns and discovered the track of the 
elk that had shed them. The elk is 
fully as big as a horse and of the deer 
kind. Their sw*iftest speed is a large 
trot and in that motion they turn their 
horns back upon their necks and cock 
their noses aloft in the air, nature hav- 
ing taught them this attitude to save 
their antlers from being entangled in 
the thickets, which they always retire 
to. We all agreed to wear in our hats 
the maosti, which is in Indian the 
beard of a wild turkey-cock, and on our 
breasts the figure of that fowl with Its 
Wings extended and holding in its claws 
a scroll with this motto: 'Vice coturnd- 
cum,' meaning that we had all been 
supported by them in the wilderness in 



OF THE DIVIDING LINE 



169 



the roam of quails. It is not improba- 
ble that a few miles farther the course 
of our line nrkight carry us to the most 
northerly towns of the Cherokees. It 
was a great pilty that the want of bread 
and the weakness of our horses hin- 
dered us from making the discovery. 
Our traders have now to travel about 
BOO miles to take goods to the Chero- 
kees. The discovery of a shorter way 
would certainly prove an unspeakable 
advantage to this colony by facilitat- 
ing the trade with so considerable a 
nation of Indiajis, whilch have 62 towns 
and more than 4,000 fighting men. Of 
late the new colony of Georgia has 
made an act abliging us to go 400 miles 
to take out a license to traffic with these 
Oherokees, though many of their towns 
lie out of their bounds, and we car- 
ried on this trade 80 years before that 
colony was thought of. I would fur- 
nlish our foresters for going into this 
great wilderness with portable provis- 
ions, namely gluebroth and rockahomi- 
ny. The Indians, who have no way of 
traveling but on the hoof, making noth- 
ing of going 25 miles a day and carry- 
ing their necessaries at their backs and 
sometimes a stout pack of skins in the 
bargains and they laugh at the Eng- 
lish, who cannot stir to the next 
neighbor without a horse and say that 
two legs are too much for such lazy 
people who cannot visit their next 
neighbor without six. For their part 
they were utter strangers to all our 
beasts of burden or carriage, before the 
slothful Europeans came amongst them. 
Although practice will soon make a 
man of tolerable vigor an able footman, 
yet a^ a help to bear fatigue, I used to 
chew a root of gingseng as I walked 
along, this held up my spirits and 
made me trip away nimbly in n>y half 
pack-boois as younger men would do 
in their shoes. We rested our horses by 



walking and custom had made travel- 
ing on foot so familiar that we were 
able to ■walk ten miles with pleasure. 
One of the men had the luck to meet 
with a young buffalo on the 11th of No- 
vember, the beast being two years old, 
but notwithstanding as big as an old 
ordinary ox. The hair growing on his 
neck and head is shaggy and so soft it 
will spin Into thread not unlike mohair. 
Some people have stock'ngs n^ade of it 
that would have served an Israelite 
during his 40 years march through 
the wilderness. His horns are short 
and strong, of which the Indians make 
large spoons which they say will split 
and fall to pieces whenever poison Is 
put Into them. Buffaloes may be easily 
tarried when they are taken young. The 
best way to catch them is to carry a 
mulch mare Into the woods and when 
you find a cow and a calf to kill the 
cow and then having caught the calf 
to suckle it upon the mare, when it will 
follow her home and become as gentle 
as another calf. If we could only get 
into the breed of them they might be 
made very useful, not only for the 
dairy, by giving an ocean of milk, but 
also for drawing vast and cumbersome 
weights by their prodigious strength. 
The men were so delighted with the 
diet of buffalo meat that the gridiron 
and frying-pan had no more rest at 
night. 

"The Tuscarora Indians were once 
very numerous and powerful, making 
within time of memory at least a 
thousand fighting men. Their habita- 
tion, before the war with Carolina, 
was on the north branch of Neuse riv- 
er, commonly called Connecia creek, but 
now the few that are left alive are on 
the north side of Moratuck, which Is 
all that part of Roanoke below the 
great falls towards Albemarle sound. 



170 



byrd's survey 



But the greatest consumption of these 
savages happened by the war about 
25 years ago, on account of some in- 
justice the Inhabitants of Carolina had 
done them about their lands. It was on 
that provocation they resented their 
wrongs a little too severely upon Mr. 
L/awson, who under color of being sur- 
veyor-general had encroached too much 
upon their territories, at which they 
were so enraged that they waylaid him 
and killed him, but at the same time 
released the Baron De Graffenreid, 
whom they had seized for company, 
because it appeared plainly he had 
done them no wrong. This blow wai 
followed by some other bloody actions 
on the part of the Indians, which 
brought on the war, wherein many 
were cut off and obliged to flee for ref- 
uge to the Senecas, so that now 
there remains so few that they are in 
danger of being quite exterminated by 
the Catawbas, their mortal enemies. 
We crossed the Trading Path, which is 
the route the traders take with their 
caravans when they g'^ to trade with 
the Indians. The goods lor the Indian 
trade consist chiefly of guns, powder 
shot, hatchets (which the Inu^ans call 
tomahawks), kettles, red and blue 
planes, Dufflelds, Stroudwater, blank- 
ets and some cuttlery wares, brass 
rings and other triii.^ets. The course 
of this path lies through a fine coun- 
try, watered by several beautiful riv- 
ers, those of the greatest note being 
Tar river, which is the upper part of 
Pamlico; Flat river, Little river and 
Eno river, all three branches of Neuse. 
Between Eno and Saxapahaw rivers 
are the Haw Old Fields, which have 
the reputation of containing the most 
fertile highland In this part of the 
world, lying in a body of about 50,000 
acres. This Saxapahaw is the upper 



part of Cape Fear river, the falls of 
which lie many miles below the Trad- 
ing Path. Not far from thence the 
Path crosses Aramanchy river, a 
branch of the Saxapahaw, and alwut 
40 miles beyond that the Path Inter- 
sects the Yadkin river,, which is there 
half a mile over and is supposed to be 
the south branch of the same Pee Dee. 
About three score mues more bring 
you to the first town of the Catawbas, 
called Nauvasa, situated on the banks 
of the Santee river. These Indians 
were all called formerly by the general 
name of the Usherees. 

"On the Roanoke river, at the plan- 
tation of Cornelius Keith, I beheld the 
wretohedest scene of poverty I have 
ever met with in this happy part of 
the world. This man, his wife and six 
children lived in a pen like so many 
cattle, without any roof over their 
heads but that of heaven. This was 
their airy residence In the day-time, 
but then there was a fodder-stack not 
far from this enclosure, in which the 
whole family sheltered themselves at 
night and in bad weather. However, 
it was almost worth while to be as 
poor as this man was to be as perfect- 
ly contented. All his wants proceeded 
from indolence and not frotn misfor- 
tune. All the grandees of the Sappona 
Indians came to meet us, with four 
young ladies of the first quaVty, the 
price set upon whom was not at all 
exorbitant, as a princess for a pair ^^ 
thoughrdear. 5,The Saponas are now 
of red stockings cannot surely be ^^ 
made up of the remnants of several 
other nations, of which the most con- 
siderable are thw- Occaneches and 
Stoukenhocks, who have united them- -'* 
selves into one body and all go under 
the name of the Saponas. The Saponas 
have now removed in a body to the Ca- 



-j - )^ Ml - ■ii-n.^TiM ^ y^OHKrM^ 



OF THE DIVIDING LINE. 



171 



tawbas, and the daugrhter of the Kins 
of the Teteros went away with them, 
but being: the last of her natioti, and 
fearing: she should not be treated ac- 
cording- to her rank, she poisoned her- 
self, like an old Roman, with the root 
of the trumpet-plant. She was the last 
of 'her race. 

"Thus ended our second expedition. 
In which we extended the line within 
the shadow of the Chariky mountains, 
where we were oblig-ed to set up our 
pillars like Hercules and return home. 
His Majesty has been pleased to de- 
cUre, notwithstanding the desertion of 
the Carolina cotnmissioners, that the 
line run by us shall hereafter stand as 
the true boundary between the govern- 
ments of Virginia and North Caro- 
lina." 

The narrative of Col. Byrd also con- 
tains notes of a journey to what he 
called "The Land of Eden," that being: 
his name for his property In North 
Carolina. He began this journey Sep- 
tember 11, 1733. On the 1st of October 
he crossed the Dan river near the place 
where the Irvin river runs Into It and 
then came to an opening of large ex- 
tent, where the Sauro Indians once 
lived, who, he says, had been a consid- 
erable nation, but hua been so inces- 
santly annoyed by the frequent inroads 
of the Senecas that they had been 
obliged to remove irom this fine situa- 
tion about the year 1700. They then 
retired more southerly, as far as the 



Kewawees, where Col. Byrd says a 
remnant of them still survived in 1733. 
On Hatcher's creek he found a lar^re 
beech tree, with these words cut upon 
it, "J. H., H. H., B. B., lay here the 
24th of May, 1673." Inese men, he says, 
were Joseph Hatcher, Henry Hatcher, 
and Benjamin Bullington, Indian trad- 
ers, who had lodged near .^nat place 
60 years before on their way to the 
Sauro town. Col. Byrd had the good 
luck to shoot a young buffalo. He says: 
"I pitched my tent on the very spot 
I had done so when we ran the divid- 
ing line between Virginia and Caro- 
lina. The beech tree whose bark re- 
corded the names of the Carolina com- 
missioners was still standing, and we 
did theim the justice to add to their 
names a sketch of their characters. 
Major Mayo, my companion, began to 
survey the land which the commission- 
ers of Carolina had presented him with 
on Sugartree creek. In coming back to 
our cacnp from an observation, we 
found a wolf eating a deer which we 
had out In the water to preserve It 
from the ravens. We shot an old she 
bear atid discovered a solitary bull buf- 
falo, which boldly standing his ground, 
contrary to the custom of that shy ani- 
mal, we spared his life, from a prin- 
ciple of never slaughtering an Inno- 
cent creature to no purpose." 

FRED A. OLDS. 
(The End.) 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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